Russell Wilson and the Broncos almost cooked the Commanders on Sunday.
The closing minutes of the Week 2 Broncos-Commanders was the sort of zaniness you can come to expect on NFL Sundays, and while it ended in regulation with a Commanders win, it almost wasn't.
To set the scene: Broncos kicker Will Lutz nailed a field goal with 1:49 left in the game, and following an unsuccessful onside kick, the Commanders needed a first down to ice the game. Instead, the Commanders would punt, and the Broncos would have a chance to tie the game on the ensuing drive.
The Broncos would drive to the 50-yard line and Wilson would unleash a Hail Mary that would bobble and bounce before landing in the waiting hands of Brandon Johnson.
A HAIL MARY AS TIME EXPIRES
— NFL (@NFL) September 17, 2023
📺: #WASvsDEN on CBS⁰📱: Stream on #NFLPlus https://t.co/FhXtx7w3wW pic.twitter.com/kjBwNtACqA
MORE: Sean Payton opens up game with onside kick — but it didn't work
The Broncos, though, would still need a little bit of help on the scoreboard for a chance at OT. Needing a 2-point conversation, to tie it up, Wilson threw a pass to Courtland Sutton, and it feel incomplete. But, as is the case with so many game-deciding plays, this came with some controversy: Commanders defender Benjamin St-Juste seems to have gotten a hand on the shoulderpad of Sutton, potentially interfering in the play.
It all came down to the two-point conversion and the @Commanders defense held strong. #WASvsDEN pic.twitter.com/ViybFi6BXj
— NFL (@NFL) September 17, 2023
Unsurprisingly, Sutton and the rest of the Broncos players seemed to want a flag on the play, but ultimately, the refs kept the laundry in their pockets.
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Following the game, Sean Payton didn't put blame on the referees for missing in the call, instead putting the blame on their own shoulders for the loss — including Wilson's.
"There was a number of drives where we’re late with personnel, getting out of the huddle we took a while. That’s got to change," he said. "We burned timeouts in the first half, and I’m not used to doing. We've got to be better. I’ve got to be better, Russ has got to be sharper getting the play out."
In any case, the Payton era has gotten off to an 0-2 start, but their second loss may indicate they're closer to a win than they think.