Did the refs steal a game away from the Rams?
The Denver Broncos’ offense had zero juice during a scoreless first half against the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday Night Football to cap Week 3. Denver roared back to form out of the halftime break to somehow steal a 30-26 win on the final play, but after the game most people were still talking about the controversial calls that went against the Rams late in the game.
The fourth quarter was electric with both teams making big plays. With the Rams holding onto a three-point lead with under two minutes left, the officials made a call that changed the outcome. Broncos QB Bo Nix threw to the sideline looking for receiver Pat Bryant, but Rams defensive back Josh Wallace intercepted the pass. This essentially would have won the game for Los Angeles. Instead, the officials called defensive pass interference, which gave Denver a first down and set up the game-winning TD.
Watch the play here. Did the refs get it right?
NBC went to its rules analyst Terry McAulay, who said it shouldn’t have been pass interference despite Wallace having his hands on Bryant during the play. McAulay also pointed out that Bryant grabbed Wallace during the throw.
“I don’t see the defender do anything that significantly hinders the receiver on this play,” McAulay said. Here’s another look at the play:
Bryant did an incredible job selling this call. It just sure feels unethical. The officials have to get this right in the moment, and it seems like they blew it.
The Broncos took the lead on a one-yard QB sneak by Nix with 47 seconds left. Matthew Stafford marched the Rams down the field, but the game ended on an interception in the end zone on the final snap.
The DPI wasn’t the only important call to go against the Rams at the end of the game. The Rams were whistled for five penalties in the final two minutes, which ties the most by any team since 2000.
There was added attention on the call that swung the Broncos-Rams game because the officials also blew a critical defensive pass interference call during the wild ending of the Cowboys-Ravens game in the late afternoon window. Somehow, the Ravens were called for defensive pass interference on this play. The Ravens pulled out the win, but fans were still on watch for any shenanigans from the refs, and the Broncos-Rams game provided them.
Here’s a snippet of the conversation online after the defensive pass interference call robbed Wallace of an interception and a Rams win:
The Rams were the consensus Super Bowl favorite entering the season. Now they’re 1-2, and Myles Garrett is injured. The NFL is impossible to predict. The officials being so inconsistent makes it even more difficult.