Just seconds after connecting on a 50-yard Hail Mary on the final play of the game, the Denver Broncos had their comeback halted on a controversial no-call on the ensuing 2-point conversion.
Trailing the Washington Commanders 35-27 with just three seconds remaining, Broncos quarterback Russell Wilson heaved a 50-yard bomb toward the end zone. The ball was tipped multiple times, by each team, before falling into the hands of wide receiver Brandon Johnson in the end zone, making it a 35-33 game as regulation expired. The touchdown pass was the third of the day for Wilson and the second to Johnson.
Needing a 2-point conversion in order to send the game to overtime, the Broncos had little time to celebrate the miracle play they had just pulled off.
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The jubilation felt throughout Mile High Stadium was short-lived as Wilson's pass to wide receiver Courtland Sutton on the 2-point conversion was broken up in the end zone. The play was full of controversy though, as it appeared that Commanders' defensive back Benjamin St-Juste made contact with Sutton before the ball arrived.
The officials did not throw a flag and the game ended with a 35-33 win for Washington. Had the officials called pass interference on St-Juste, Denver would have had another opportunity to tie the game from the 1-yard line. From the 1-yard line, the Broncos would have had more play diversity to work with, including running the ball.
The controversial no-call was an almost poetic ending to one of the wilder games of the young NFL season, which saw the Broncos blow a 21-3 first-half lead and nearly saw the Commanders blow an 11-point lead with just 1:50 remaining in the game.
The young Commanders improved to 2-0 on the season, while the Broncos are off to a rough 0-2 start under new head coach Sean Payton.
