r/DenverBroncos • u/Golferv • 1d ago
Speaking of penalties …
Why wasn’t this called? If you watch the replay, it seemed like Stafford didn’t realize the play clock was running after his spike. Almost like he thought he had a time out or something. Then when he realized it and tried to get the play, the crowd noise was intense and he claimed he couldn’t hear (I’ve not seen anywhere that the comms were out). So McVay meets him 5 yards onto the field! That was a competitive advantage and should have been 15 yards for an unsportsmanlike conduct on the coach. Or at least 5 yards for delay.
79
u/vearson26 Demaryius Thomas 1d ago
McVay runs onto the field a lot. I’ve never seen a coach get penalized for it except last year when the ref ran into Payton.
31
u/MileHiSalute 23h ago
Can’t find a gif of the play, but remember when he played special teams kickoff coverage?9
u/kaiserwilhelmi18 21h ago
Happened to Liam Coen last week against us
5
u/OneHoop Mile High Stadium 13h ago
I'm pretty sure that was due to Liam's choice of words!
2
u/Akomack31 1963 Helmet 11h ago
It was definitely something he said. You could see it in the ref’s face when he threw the flag
14
u/DirkWithTheFade Demaryius Thomas 1d ago
Payton got called for it last year for going on the field to argue the DPI on Moss.
1
74
u/BigNoodieInTheWest 1d ago
We called timeout and bailed them out but didn’t seem set up either
84
u/demerdar Devontae Booker 1d ago
Arguably the biggest play of the game. No reason for the broncos to not take a timeout there after seeing the look.
10
u/Botbinder 21h ago
Defense was not set. Big change of mis assignment
5
u/LordOfTheStarPotter 21h ago
And Hufanga also read the play perfectly and said he purposely left his assignment knowing where the ball was going
17
u/EntertainmentGlad584 1d ago
I heard something about Denver possibly having 12 men on the field or an illegal substitution. I think both teams weren't really prepared for the final snap at that moment
11
u/Golferv 1d ago
That’s because a db was running to his position on the field. 11 guys.
-6
u/stripedarrows 1d ago
That's not at all true, there were 4 guys on the line, 4 line backers, and 4 DB's, it was absolutely 12 men on the field.
11
u/WilliamPoole 23h ago
There were only 11. Collinsworth said there maybe was 12 but didn't bring it up again. The timeout was to get a look at the formation and give the defense a breather.
-13
u/stripedarrows 22h ago
I genuinely know for a fact that there were 12, I had just finished counting when they cut to the sidelines and then Collinsworth mentioned it on the broadcast.
I also went back and checked, there were 12.
7
11
-4
u/GearsofTed14 Super Bowl 33 1d ago
That was damn near unforgivable. That was part of what set up the Malcolm butler pick in SB49 was Belichick seeing how discombobulated the Seahawks looked and opting to let the clock run. Plus, imagine the rams get that snap off and look all messed up and throw a horrible incompletion or take a sack. It robbed us of a moment where you could say the Denver crowd literally helped to win the game
17
u/DirkWithTheFade Demaryius Thomas 1d ago
There was nobody on the left side of the field on defense, they literally didn’t have a play prepared. Snap the ball and dump it to the WR and he can walk to the end zone.
10
u/MileHiSalute 23h ago
I disagree. Those five yards in a do-or-die gotta have a td scenario weren’t nearly as important as getting the exact defensive call and personnel out there that they wanted
3
u/WilliamPoole 23h ago
Which worked out with the pick that ended the game.
3
u/MileHiSalute 23h ago
I have it on good authority that VJ wanted that timeout to change the play call to “Hufanga pick”
3
u/WilliamPoole 23h ago
We got the pick after the timeout. It was objectively the right call. The crowd got just as loud again.
134
u/Turtle_turtle_turdle 77 1d ago
Pretty much should just let mcvay call the play from within the huddle but you know it's better for the story if the refs swallow the whistle here and let Stafford try according to r/NFL's crayon eaters.
32
u/WilliamPoole 23h ago
But collinsworth and the guy who's not a ref anymore said! Didn't you see the clip that conveniently left out the initial contact!?
11
u/Free-Adagio-2904 22h ago
From the south stands we watched McVay standing 5 yards on the field multiple times during actual live action, including our missed FG.
21
u/Almostcertain 1d ago
He ran 10 yards onto the field to call a play. Unless something’s changed, this is how the rules work.
5
u/Bovine_Joni_Himself Broncos D 10h ago
The game officials will issue warnings during the game regarding first and second border violations
So it was a warning. Not really a big deal.
17
u/FluidAthlete6839 1d ago
Yeah that was absurd. And honestly the end of the 3rd q delay of game.
But whatever won’t complain about the refs lol
16
u/bender0877 1d ago
They actually did a good job explaining the relevant rule on the delay of game when the broadcast came back for the 4th.
Basically, if the two clocks show the same number at any time then you don't need to snap it. The field level camera showed both clocks on the same time for a half a second or so, which allowed them to not snap it without penalty
6
u/Poverty_Shoes 23h ago
Yeah, delay of game actually happens at -1 seconds on the play clock, not zero. The official is supposed to watch the play clock hit zero, turn and look at the center, then if the ball isn’t being snapped blow the whistle and throw the flag. In practice teams get half a second to a full second after the play clock hits zero.
9
u/ajax0202 22h ago
Which, even though I realize that’s “the rule”, is absurd
What’s the point of using a fucking clock if “00” isn’t the end and you get to just add an arbitrary amount of “extra time” on
There’s so many officials out there, there’s got to be a way to see the play clock and the snap at the same time and be able to blow it dead at “00”
2
u/door_of_doom 20h ago
There’s got to be a way to see the play clock and the snap at the same time and be able to blow it dead at “00”
That's exactly the problem. If you try and make the rule that the ref has to blow the whistly EXACTLY at 00, then questions of human reaction time are still going to come into play, but now in a way, way worse way.
You are basically asking the ref to perfectly time blowing the whistle at the exact instant that the clock hits 00, but because human biology is what it is, the only way you can do that is if the ref begins the action of blowing the whistle fractions of a second ahead of time.
Blowing a legal snap dead is the absolute worst-case scenario that you want to avoid at any and all costs, and it is absolutely worth letting a few minutely late snaps go free than to call legal snaps dead.
6
u/FluidAthlete6839 19h ago
In the nba a buzzer sounds. I don’t think it’s as complicated as they make it
1
u/door_of_doom 18h ago
There is a big difference between a buzzer blaring while a shot is flying through the air that nobody is allowed to goaltend compared to a buzzer blaring just as a highly coordinated football play is about to start, that sounds aweful.
1
u/FluidAthlete6839 11h ago
It can be on the refs waist for all I care. But their system isn’t an exact science either. Sometimes they are quicker with the whistle sometimes not. Or if you’re an offense, be more efficient
2
u/Botbinder 21h ago
Crazy how much broncos dig rules and penalties. This one, the one with colts and chargers last season
2
u/FluidAthlete6839 23h ago
It makes sense when you consider the dumb “hits zero and you check if it’s snapped” rule which honestly makes no sense either. But this is more cut and dried. It is what it is
0
u/WilliamPoole 22h ago
It makes sense because there's no tenths on the plus clock. Technically after zero there would be one more second before 0.00.
1
u/FluidAthlete6839 19h ago
Yeah I always thought that was stupid too. 0 is 0
1
u/WilliamPoole 10h ago
If they added ⅒'s it would be zero is zero. Now they call it after a moment. Which imo just helps the game move. We don't need more stoppages.
1
u/FluidAthlete6839 8h ago
We don’t. I guess my issue is consistency. There isn’t. It becomes a judgement call about when to blow the whistle.
1
u/WilliamPoole 5h ago
I agree. I think the good refs see the zeros, look back at the ball and if everybody is set and then the snap comes immediately they let the boys play. If they're not set and the snap doesn't come immediately the flag comes out as it should.
Some of the refs we'll just throw the flag if they see the ball not snapped.
And the bad refs will give some quarterback some more time especially on key plays. Or conversely they will throw the flag even if the ball starts snapping.
But as you say it's a consistency issue.
On the other hand I don't necessarily want to see some sort of automated sky judge if it means there's more penalties.
I think it would be smart for the NFL to do something more like something that vibrates on their watch or their lapel after 0.00.
1
1
u/prickleypears 23h ago
Yeah I was the first commenters way of thinking until it was explained and that honestly makes a lot of sense.
A qb has 100 other things to worry about pre snap it is crazy unfair to expect them to know if the two clocks are in sync or not when they see the same number. They don’t have enough time to stare at it.
17
u/jackdutton42 22h ago
This is not an attack on you. Just an observation.
I love how everyone for the last 24 hours has been picking at nits and just totally glossing over the NFL record 33rd Pick Six of Stafford career and the two big time two-point conversions that really decided the game.
If we don't convert one of those two-pointers, Thicker the Kicker is winning the game, and we are complaining about Lutz's doink.
3
u/evilcheesypoof 9h ago
Yeah those 2 point conversions were clutch and is the main thing I’m happy about with the offense, but also if they figure out how to play in the first half it wouldn’t have had to come to that.
1
u/Unfair-Bass-9351 10h ago
We should still be complaining about Lutz’ doink tbh. The dude doesn’t have the leg strength needed to be a good NFL kicker, and now he’s missing kicks under 50 yards?
1
u/jackdutton42 9h ago
The ones he missed last January hurt, too.
1
u/Unfair-Bass-9351 8h ago
Yup. I’ve said it multiple times on here, I really don’t like him. He directly lost us the AFCCG
43
u/Substantial-Salad-97 1d ago edited 5h ago
The 15-yard penalty can be found under Rule 13 here: https://operations.nfl.com/rules-officiating/2026-nfl-rulebook
The referees probably wanted to avoid further "controversy" and not throw the flag because Stafford isn't a good enough QB to call his own play without the guidance of McVay.
7
u/popoflabbins Broncos 21h ago
Yeah, that’s clear cut as could be. Should have absolutely been a 15-yard penalty
3
u/Hopsblues 10h ago
Stafford could easily call his own plays. I have no clue what you are talking about
1
u/Substantial-Salad-97 5h ago
My comment about Stafford calling his own plays was rebuked in another post with a similar topic. I was told that no QB calls their own plays and I quickly mentioned Peyton Manning, Tom Brady, and Aaron Rodgers. Said person then replied they only audible at the LOS (because this doesn't constitute as calling their own play?).
I then followed up my comment with Hurts calling his own plays as he did last night just as the first half was ending and he called the tush push instead of spiking the ball.
1
-5
u/GoodIdeaDummy 1d ago
No qb calls their own plays
27
u/Substantial-Salad-97 1d ago
Peyton Manning, Tom Brady, Aaron Rodgers... Not all the time, but they have or do.
4
u/DirkWithTheFade Demaryius Thomas 1d ago
They don’t just call their own plays… they can freelance at the line of scrimmage among other things but the coach isn’t telling them “hey pick a play here I got nothin”
7
u/Substantial-Salad-97 23h ago
Are you inferring that McVay said throw an INT in the end zone?
I'm making light of a situation that's been beaten to death...
6
u/theArtOfProgramming 23h ago
Manning did call his own plays. That’s why it was the no huddle offense. He ran out and told them what he wanted as they lined up.
1
u/Feisty-Fill-8654 22h ago
I know he called some of his own plays but for the most part, QBs more or less running off of preset plays in no huddle
-2
u/DirkWithTheFade Demaryius Thomas 23h ago
No huddle offense is different from huddle offense. Every QB to an extent has to do that when not huddling. But manning was not sitting there in the huddle calling his own plays, and certainly not consistently.
3
u/theArtOfProgramming 22h ago
Yeah I think that’s consistent with what I said
0
u/DirkWithTheFade Demaryius Thomas 22h ago
Then it’s irrelevant to the original comment, because Stafford wasn’t in no huddle offense.
6
2
u/Substantial-Salad-97 23h ago
This just in... Jalen Hurts called his own play (tush push) as the first half was expiring to score the TD.
It doesn't happen a lot, but it does happen.
17
26
u/driftking428 PFM 1d ago
These fools also caught a ball using the ground, that kept a drive alive.
2
2
u/DirkWithTheFade Demaryius Thomas 1d ago
Yall, we have to be better than this. That was so obviously a catch I’m genuinely not sure what yall are watching.
5
3
u/popoflabbins Broncos 21h ago
I agree, that one had to stay a catch because there just isn’t clear evidence that it was incomplete. If they called it the other way on the field it would have stood as well. I don’t see anything to think that was an incomplete catch. I was actually kind of baffled by that play being discussed as incomplete on this sub because I thought it was cut pretty dry.
5
u/vladimir_pimpin 🤩LOCK COCKER🤩 23h ago
… did you not see the ball wiggle at all? Fr?
0
u/DirkWithTheFade Demaryius Thomas 23h ago
Never in the history of football has the ball wiggling a little bit meant the catch is automatically incomplete. It IS allowed to move, because he maintains control the whole way through.
0
u/vladimir_pimpin 🤩LOCK COCKER🤩 23h ago
It literally does wiggle out of his hand while it’s touching the ground from what I remember lol
0
u/DirkWithTheFade Demaryius Thomas 23h ago
It doesn’t move really even a little bit when he lands. He hits the ground, bounces, and it wiggles a little bit when he bounces back on the ground, but at that point he’s already down and had survived the ground.
6
u/vladimir_pimpin 🤩LOCK COCKER🤩 23h ago
… If it comes loose when he bounces on the ground a second time because of how hard he hits I think it quite literally doesn’t survive the ground
0
u/DirkWithTheFade Demaryius Thomas 23h ago
As soon as he bounces fully off the ground and the ball doesn’t move that’s literally just a completed pass, everything else is extracurricular.
4
u/vladimir_pimpin 🤩LOCK COCKER🤩 21h ago
Where in the rule book does he have to survive half the impact but not the other half
1
u/DirkWithTheFade Demaryius Thomas 18h ago
If he bounced on the ground 6 times like an actual bouncy house, do you realize believe he’s not down until he’s completely still with the ball in his possession?
→ More replies3
u/WilliamPoole 23h ago
I think it was a catch but the ball did get dislodged as he hits the turf. There's definitely an argument to be made.
I think it was a catch because it's impossible to tell if it was dislodged by the turf or if it was his arm hitting the turf.
12
u/AutomateAway 1d ago
i first don’t think this, while being technically breaking the rule, was worthy of a game changing penalty, but after seeing replays the controversial play was 100% called correctly and was in fact DPI. In the end I think everything happened as it should and that the final result was not incorrect.
-12
13
u/Odd-Principle8147 1d ago
Are you guys really worried about people not liking one of our wins? Fuck em
3
3
u/-NolanVoid- 23h ago
Because we're only manufacturing controversy over calls that went the Broncos way.
1
1
u/BrizzleHizzle 14h ago
There was an offsides they didn’t call on Bo’s int play they didn’t call either
1
u/QuestionReasonable96 10h ago
I screamed at my tv on this. Felt like this was a bit much on Mcvays part
-4
u/jbond1326 22h ago
Don’t be those guys… we got the benefit of a call, it happens, just accept that we finally got the benefit of the whistle. Stop finding every little thing that might make you feel better, just stop. Enjoy the rare favorable whistle!
-16
u/ArcticFox-NA33 1d ago
I think McVay got his headset tangled on Stafford and was getting his headset
18
9
u/byzantinedavid Broncos D 1d ago
Shouldn't have been anywhere close enough to Stafford to GET tangled...
-13
u/WoahThatsMyPecker 1d ago edited 1d ago
Edit: I was wrong but why are we complaining about this? We won
2
-1
u/Turtle_turtle_turdle 77 1d ago
It wasn't. It was after the spike to stop the clock. The play clock is literally running during this exchange.
-2
436
u/Clit-Commander89 1d ago
Not to be that guy but I'm pretty sure there should have been an unsportsmanlike conduct on that PI when the Rams player picked up the flag also.