VIDEO: Did Broncos Cheat on Adam Vinatieri Missed Field Goal?
By Michael Luciano
The Denver Broncos sure haven't been winning football games legally, so why not try to cheat? When Indianapolis Colts kicker Adam Vinatieri attempted a field goal early in the first quarter, he once again hooked it wide. However, his poor kick might have been a result of some illegal contact on the part of Denver defensive tackle Denico Autry, who went nearly unabated towards Vinatieri.
Denico Autry got called Sunday for illegal contact on the LS. Denver should’ve gotten called for it too but they were far more deceptive in getting a man free to force a Vinatieri missed FG. Here’s the video. Below is the frame by frame breakdown. pic.twitter.com/wV1gd4fxBp
— Stephen Reed (@NiceReedSteve) October 29, 2019
Broncos special teams coach Tom McMahon, who was the special teams coach in Indianapolis from 2013 to 2017, appears to have gotten one over on the refs, as he lined up a defensive back in front of the referee to obscure his vision while Autry plodded into the backfield.
Yes, the ref couldn't necessarily see the play due to the way the Broncos lined up, but there's a reason they have multiple officials on one crew. The line judge should have been able to sniff this one out.
While we were all shocked and upset Vinatieri missed another FG, this one I’m likely to give him a pass on. Good play design and execution by Denver. It was completely illegal but they deceived the side judge so well they got away with it.
— Stephen Reed (@NiceReedSteve) October 29, 2019
As the old saying goes, if you're not cheating, you're not trying. The Broncos should be commended for their creative circumventing of the rules, but that wasn't enough to hold off Jacoby Brissett and the Colts.