Broncos muffed punt: Why weren't Chargers flagged for interference during game-changing play in OT?

The Denver Broncos squared off against the Chargers in Los Angeles for an AFC West showdown on Monday Night Football.

At the end of four quarters, the scoreboard read 16-16, and the pair headed into overtime to continue their duel. Denver won the coin toss and elected to receive the ball in this sudden-death continuation.

The overtime period didn't help create much separation. Both teams received the ball twice and ended up punting each time with nothing happening offensively. As time kept ticking, it started to seem as if a tie was the most probable outcome.

Then, the game changed entirely.

Denver's [punt] return unit was on the field to get the ball back for the third time in OT, but things didn't work out as planned. Instead, Montrell Washington, the Broncos' punt returner, muffed the punt and allowed Los Angeles to recover the football deep into their own territory.

The mistake would cost Denver the ball game, as the Chargers kicked a field goal to win just three plays later on the injured leg of their kicker, Dustin Hopkins.

P.J. Locke, who set up to block directly in front of Washington, was pushed backwards. The impact of the push forced Locke to take a step back, resulting in him bumping into the returner and Washington muffing the punt due to the contact.

Some blamed Locke for this mistake, while others wondered why a flag wasn't thrown on the defender for forcing Locke to bump into his own teammate. In the meantime, Montrell Washington has made it clear who he believes deserves the blame.

"It’s not on P.J. at all. I believe it’s on me. It’s my job for him to hear me out there. I’ve got to scream. If I’ve got to scream louder, I’ve just got to scream louder"

Why wasn't a flag called on the Chargers defense for forcing Locke to bump into his teammate, though?

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No flag called on muffed punt by Broncos; what's the deal?

Dallas Cowboys v Denver Broncos

The Chargers defense causing Washington's own teammate to make him muff the punt has become the subject of controversy.

Some believe this act should have resulted in a flag being thrown, while others stand firm on the belief that it's within the rulebook of the NFL. So, did the refs get this one right, or did they miss another key call?

What's the truth on why a flag wasn't thrown? The rulebook states:

"The penalty will not be called if a teammate of the receiver accidentally creates contact with them."

Immediately after, the rulebook expands on this, stating it will be called if a member of the kicking team (Chargers) pushes a member of the returning team (Broncos), forcing contact to be made with the returner.

That means a penalty should've been called on the play, right? Well, not exactly.

There's a stipulation to this rule. If the blocker in the above circumstance initiates the contact instead of being the victim of an unprovoked push, no flags should be thrown. That's exactly what happened here, and the reason why Los Angeles went unpenalized.

It's no secret that NFL referees have been on a hot streak of bad calls lately. Sorry Broncos fans; this no-call was correct.