Broncos defensive end Malik Jackson was called for a face-mask penalty in the third quarter against the Bengals. (Eric Lutzens, The Denver Post)
In the third quarter, on a Bengals first-and-10 at their own 17-yard line, AJ McCarron was sacked by Malik Jackson for a loss of one yard. McCarron stood up looking for a face-mask penalty, but no flag was thrown.
After more than 25 seconds, referee Ed Hochuli finally threw the flag, sending Broncos coach Gary Kubiak into a rage on the sideline.
Some believed Hochuli was alerted by replay officials, after the play was re-aired by ESPN, a violation of the league’s rules.
For those asking about the facemask, the input had to come from somewhere else. Had to be replay and it is not reviewable.
— Mike Pereira (@MikePereira)
Nobody will convince me otherwise. I don’t like it. The rules don’t allow that. I know it is about getting it right but….
— Mike Pereira (@MikePereira)
Others believe Hochuli made the call after .
Kubiak was asked about it Tuesday, and came to the defense of Hochuli, despite being visibly angered during the game.
“Yeah, that was interesting,” Kubiak said. “I can’t speak for the league. I don’t know. I know it happened very late. There was a facemask on the play. There is no doubt about that, but yet there was no flag and you’re almost to the next play and here it comes. There are some things going on differently in how games are being viewed and people that are involved in situations and those type of things. That just looks like one of those situations that took place. Ed was very honest with me and said that he got late information but he thinks it was right. It’s kind of hard to argue with that. I know they’re trying to do the best job they can.
“I don’t know that I know exactly how late they can throw (a flag). I know there is a lot of communication going on around the league from the league office, the officials, from New York, whatever. I know that has changed. Those guys get a lot of information as the game goes on. Anytime it is ‘the game’, the Monday Night game, all the help is coming at one direction, not like a normal Sunday where there is 14 or 15 football games. That’s a little bit different, but I think I do understand they’re trying to get right.”
