Flags, with a side of football.
That little yellow cloth wields so much power in the sport, where the margins are so thin. After a controversial pass interference nearly decided the outcome of the Dallas Cowboys and Baltimore Ravens game in Brazil, it was another questionable pass interference that did, at least in part, decide the winner of "Sunday Night Football" in Week 3.
Driving for the go-ahead score, Denver Broncos quarterback Bo Nix tossed a pass in the direction of Pat Bryant. Los Angeles Rams cornerback Josh Wallace, broke up the pass and appeared to haul in what could've been the game-ending interception.
At least until that yellow cloth landed on the field.
Both players appeared to be fighting for the ball, with Bryant pulling Wallace
towards him. The referees were buying what Bryant was selling, except former NFL referee and current NBC rules analyst, Terry McAulay.
NBC rules analyst Terry McAulay did not believe Rams CB Josh Wallace should have been flagged for pass interference, in what may have otherwise been an interception.
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) September 28, 2026
The Broncos went on to score what would serve as the game-winning TD. pic.twitter.com/A0YDJ8ZmZl
“As we get toward the end, we actually see the receiver grab the defender and pull in on him,” McAulay said. “I don’t see the defender do anything that significantly hinders the receiver on this play."
McAulay didn't see anything wrong with the hand fighting earlier in the play either.
"Even the first part. There’s just hands on him, he doesn’t do anything with them.”
Cris Collinsworth asked if McAulay would've ruled the play an interception.
“If the knee gets down, yes," McAulay said. "If two feet are down, yes. I absolutely, that’s what I see.”
It's worth noting that the Broncos did still have all three timeouts, so Denver would've had a chance to force a punt and get the ball back. However, the clock would've been against the Broncos at that stage, making it a difficult task to get into field goal range.
Rams coach Sean McVay spoke for only about a minute after the game before leaving the podium. McVay said he'd look at the play.
"Looked like it was a good competitive play from my vantage point."
There was a lot that had to go wrong for the Rams to end up in that spot, especially after taking a 16-0 lead into halftime. Denver outscored Los Angeles 30-10 in the second half, even if it did take multiple flags to get the Broncos into the end zone for the game-winning touchdown.
Not the first time this has happened with McVay, Payton
Of course, this isn't the first controversial pass interference call, or non-call, that McVay and Broncos coach Sean Payton have dealt with.
The coaches were on opposite sides in the 2018 NFC Championship Game, played on Jan. 20, 2019, when the Rams benefitted from a no-call on Nickell Robey-Coleman late in the fourth quarter with the game tied.
January 20, 2019: Drew Brees pass intended for Tommylee Lewis sails incomplete. Nickell Robey-Coleman on the coverage. No flag. #LARvsNO #NFCChampionship pic.twitter.com/AvzGcpGm2h
— Bad Sports Refs (@BadSportsRefs) January 20, 2020
McVay's Rams would go on to defeat Payton's Saints in overtime. That call would later influence the NFL to institute replay review for pass interference calls, making it a reviewable play for the 2019 season.
That experiment lasted just one season.
Seven years later, McVay and Payton stood on opposite sidelines to watch as that yellow cloth played a big role in deciding their fate.
There was no trip to the Super Bowl on the line this time – just a win on a Sunday night in late September.
Maybe now they're even.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Rams-Broncos overshadowed by controversial penalty, Sean McVay silence
