DENVER (WISH) — The Colts turned the ball over five times, including four in the second half, and lost to the Broncos, 31-13. Jonathan Taylor dropped the ball before crossing the goal line on what would have been a 41 yard touchdown run. The play resulted in a turnover and a touchback. The Broncos got a defensive touchdown on a Colts trick play as well. Anthony Richardson threw a backwards pass to AD Mitchell, and Mitchell’s pass back to Richardson was caught by Nik Bonitto of the Broncos and returned 50 yards for a touchdown. That extended the Broncos lead from four points to 11 points in the fourth quarter. “It was a big time game for us, and obviously our chances are slim now, but we know that we signed up for 17 of these things, and we’re going to go keep fighting and keep battling,” Colts head coach Shane Steichen said. “We have a job to do, and we’re going to come back and go to work tomorrow and get ready to come home and play the Titans.” “This one hurts the most just because we outright, blatantly beat ourselves,” Colts linebacker Zaire Franklin said. “No disrespect to the Broncos, but I just felt like we just blatantly just did not play winning football today. When you’re playing meaningful football at this time of the year, the mistakes we made, you aren’t going to win if you do those things, so.” This was a crucial game for the Colts in the AFC wild card race. They now fall three games behind the Broncos and remain two games behind the Chargers for the last two wild card spots in the playoffs. The Colts next game is on Sunday, December 22 at home against the Titans. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. Take Our Poll More Colts coverage Former Colts icons attend game against Broncos Here’s what Chuck Pagano thinks about the altitude in Denver Kenny Moore II receives nomination for Walter Payton Man of the Year COUNTDOWN TO KICKOFF Tune in at 11 a.m. on WISH-TV on every Colts Sunday for Countdown to Kickoff with News 8 sports director Anthony Calhoun, former Colt Ken Dilger, Chuck Pagano, Colts Insider Kevin Bowen, and live hits from the stadium. The only television postgame show airs right after the game with Anthony Calhoun and former Colt Marlin Jackson.