The Colts ran the NFL’s worst trick play of the year, and it give Broncos’ Nick Bonitto easy TD

Sunday’s game between the Denver Broncos and the Indianapolis Colts was critical for both teams, concerning the AFC playoff picture. As play began on Sunday the Colts, sitting at 6-7, were on the outside looking into the playoff field, while the Denver Broncos occupied the seventh and final playoff spot. But a win from the Colts would put them right in the thick of the playoff mix, and put a serious dent in Denver’s own postseason chances.

For a while, it seemed neither team wanted to win, or perhaps both were truly feeling the magic of the season and letting the idea of “giving” wash over them. Broncos rookie quarterback Bo Nix threw three interceptions, Colts passer Anthony Richardson threw a pair of picks, and Indianapolis running back Jonathan Taylor dropped the football moments before crossing the goal line, gifting the Broncos possession when the loose football trickled out of bounds in the end zone for a touchback.

Amidst all this chaos the Broncos had a four-point lead early in the fourth quarter, yet the Colts were on the move. Facing 2nd and 7 just inside Denver territory, Indianapolis dialed up a double pass, with Richardson throwing to wide receiver Adonai Mitchell, who looked to throw it back to the quarterback.

That is when disaster struck:

Denver linebacker Nick Bonitto jumped the throw back to Richardson, returning it 50 yards for a back-breaking Broncos touchdown.

Here is a replay angle of Bonitto’s play, which goes into the books as a fumble return for a touchdown as it was a backward pass:

Just how pivotal was this play for each team’s playoff fortunes? Consider this from Next Gen State

Bonitto was flagged for his celebration at the end of the play, as he took a page from Marshawn Lynch’s playbook and vaulted backward into the end zone.

As for the Colts, they might want to tear the page this trick play was on out of their own playbook.