Blown delay of game call costs Broncos in 27-23 loss to Chiefs

The adage is teams don’t lose because of poor officiating or penalties. But one missed call, in particular, has much of Broncos Country, and some within the team, up in arms.

It came on a third-and-7 just before the two-minute warning. Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes completed a 35-yard pass to tight end Demetrius Harris to set up first down from the Denver Broncos 11-yard line.

But before the play, the Chiefs appeared to have not snapped the ball before the play clock hit zeros.

#Broncos LB Brandon Marshall said a ref implied the back judge missed the delay of game bc he was also looking at the QB.
Well, here he is obviously paying attention to the play clock. Just didnt stop the play to flag it. I timed the delay at a few hundredths over half a second. pic.twitter.com/1BUxDqkNhU

— Thad Brown (@thadbrown7) October 2, 2018

When asked about the play after the game, head coach Vance Joseph said the referee told him he looked at the clock with zeros on it and saw the ball was snapped.

“He said he looked up, it was zero, and the ball was gone,” Joseph said. “I disagree.”

Amid a frustrated Broncos locker room, Brandon Marshall said after the game a referee told him that the play was missed and the official in charge of making the call had been looking at the quarterback instead of the play clock.

“I don’t know man. How do you miss that?” Marshall said.

Three play later Chiefs running back Kareem Hunt dashed into the end zone from four yards out for the eventual game-winning touchdown.

Follow digital content producer Johnny Hart on Twitter: @JohnnyHart7.

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