The Denver Broncos are one of the most feared defenses in the NFL, not only because they hit hard, but because they have the ball in the secondary. Denver clinched their Week 9 matchup against the Carolina Panthers, tied for seventh in the league, and added another one late in the third quarter for a number of reasons.
Carolina QB Bryce Young threw the ball into the end zone for tight end Tommy Tremble, but it was successfully defended by Denver linebacker Justin Strad. The rookie made a second attempt to catch the ball, and it never hit the ground, staying in the air long enough for Broncos defensive end Devon Key to catch his finger. Key seems to pick the ball off the grass in real time. The Panthers lined up for the next play, snapped the ball and ran with Chuba Hubbard to catch it.
The referees then whistled and said they saw Peyton’s challenge flag before Carolina took the ball and called Denver interference. It was confirmed that the key caught the ball before it hit the field. Watch the game here:
Here’s another angle of his pick that clearly shows him catching the key before hitting the ground.
Did Sean Payton really meet the challenge a moment ago? That’s the real question. The referees’ decision to honor the challenge changed the game, as Denver scored a touchdown after an interception.
The Broncos always seemed to have luck on their side during the regular season. This is a ridiculous choice either way.
