Stokley: ‘Game-changing’ flag on Broncos LB Miller ‘unfortunate’

As many Denver Broncos fans, along with a strong contingent of media, pointed the finger at referee Carl Cheffers for perhaps overreacting with an unsportsmanlike flag on Von Miller late in Sunday’s loss to the Buffalo Bills, the pass rusher pointed only at himself.

“On that play, I just made a very, very crucial mistake at a vital point in the game,” Miller said after the game.

On the play, which allowed Buffalo to continue a drive that would eventually put the game out of reach for the Broncos, Miller pulled a “too slow” move while extending his hand to help Bills quarterback Tyrod Taylor off the turf.

“I know Tyrod. He was talking, smiling. I don’t even talk to quarterbacks. I don’t even do anything with quarterbacks,” Miller said. “But I know Tyrod, we were kind of laughing and joking through the whole game.”

But it was no joke to Cheffers, who tossed the flag.

Since the pivotal moment in the Broncos first loss of the season, however, many have come to Miller’s defense, including 104.3 The Fan’s Brandon Stokley, who called the penalty “unfortunate.”

“How can you throw a flag in that situation? It wasn’t malicious. There was no intent there. Nobody got hurt. You don’t throw a flag in that situation,” the “Stokley & Zach” co-host said. “You’re not the game. These players are. Let them play.”

Mike Pritchard, co-host of “Pritchard & Cecil,” called Cheffers “over-officious” in that moment, and that his one job in those situations is to protect the quarterback physically.

“At no point do you have the job to protect the quarterback’s feelings. I mean, are you going to tell me you’re going to throw a flag because you felt Tyrod Taylor was embarrassed by Von Miller? That he got his feelings hurt?” Pritchard told “Stokley & Zach” on Monday.

The criticism didn’t stop with the Denver media, as the NFL’s previous two heads of officiating, Dean Blandino and Mike Pereira, called the flag unnecessary.

“To me, it was an overreaction, unless there was something that was said,” Pereira told Pro Football Talk. “It’s just not a foul.”

“I have to agree. If something is said at an opponent, that’s one thing. It didn’t appear on the video … I think it’s an overreaction,” Blandino added.

Stokley, who said he was “upset” at the time of the call, said for Miller to not worry about it, that he did nothing wrong.

“You know what Von? You’re fine. You didn’t do anything wrong. The ref has to use some discretion there, and you can’t throw the flag in that situation,” Stokley said. ”It’s a game-changer.”

Follow digital content producer Johnny Hart on Twitter: @johnnyhart7.