Broncos Claim Referee Admitted Error on Game-Changing Play
Did the referees miss a delay-of-game penalty that allowed the Kansas City Chiefs to score the winning touchdown in a 27-23 thriller Monday night at Mile High?
The Denver Broncos say they did — and claim one of the refs admitted it.
The visual evidence seems to back up their view that the clock expired before a key play in the game.
Ball not snapped. Center looking to his left still. Play clock at :0. 35 yard 1st down ensues. #Chiefs #Broncos #BroncosCountry #mnf #KCvsDEN pic.twitter.com/GWrHRPd0RI
— Holbrook 🇺🇸 (@RandyHolbrook) October 2, 2018
The play in question happened with 2:03 left in the fourth quarter and the Broncos leading 23-20.
On third-and-7 from the Denver 46, Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes completed a huge 35-yard pass to tight end Demetrius Harris to give the Chiefs a first down.
Two plays later, Kareem Hunt punched it in from 4 yards out to give the Chiefs a 27-23 lead and ultimately the win.
But should that huge 35-yard completion to Harris have counted? The replay showed that the play clock had run down before Mahomes took the snap, which should have resulted in a delay-of-game penalty that would have made it third-and-12.
Playclock violation by the Chiefs was clear as day. Full second or so delay. Unbelievable this wasn't called. pic.twitter.com/zOsI1cfcpG
— Will Brinson (@WillBrinson) October 2, 2018
A few Broncos defenders, including linebacker Brandon Marshall and cornerback Chris Harris Jr., said referee Craig Wrolstad told them the ref watching the clock missed it.
“It definitely was at zero. The replay showed that,” Marshall said, reported ESPN. “The ref told us that the ref that was supposed to be watching it just missed it. … He told us that. The ref told us the guy that was supposed to be watching the clock just missed it. So maybe he got caught up in watching the game because it was a good game, but you’ve got to do your job. Come on, that was huge. That was big.”
If the play clock was called correctly, it's 3rd and 12 for the Chiefs with 2:04 left. It just would've been a different game, not a definite Chiefs loss.
— Jason Smith (@howaboutafresca) October 2, 2018
Marshall said several players heard Wrolstad say it was a mistake. “We all heard him,” he said. “That was the explanation, that he just missed it. Come on.”
Harris concurred. He asked the refs to review it, but was told it’s not a reviewable play.
Chiefs were given a gift. That play clock gaffe was inexcusable officiating.
— Eric Perkins (@PerkatPlay) October 2, 2018
“That was crazy, man,” Harris said, according to ESPN. “It was zero seconds on the clock forever. … [You] can’t review it. I asked everything. If a ref messed up on a call, you should be able to fix it. Dude, look how long the clock was on zero. That’s not why we lost the game — but that was a huge, huge no-call.”
Broncos coach Vance Joseph had little doubt the play clock had expired.
“My opinion, the clock was on zero,” Joseph said after the game. “But that’s not my job.”
Anyone who watches the NFL knows the refs miss this call more than they should and usually just let it go if it’s close. It just so happens that in this case it was a huge play in the game.
There was no statement from the NFL or the refs at press time.
Update: An earlier version of this story incorrectly stated the Chiefs would have faced fourth-and-7 if the delay-of-game penalty had been called. It would have been third-and-12.
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