The Denver Broncos loss to the Chicago Bears on Sunday was one of the craziest endings in recent football memory.
Denver, trailing by a touchdown, found a way to manufacture a game-tying drive when Joe Flacco connected with Emmanuel Sanders in the back corner of the end zone on a perfect pass. Sanders went up and got the ball while simultaneously dropping his knee in the corner of the end zone.
Vic Fangio, with a chance to win his first game as a head coach, didn’t hesitate to call for a 2-point conversion. After all, Denver wasn’t able to reach pay dirt until that final drive of the day, as the game at Mile High Stadium was basically a field goal contest throughout.
But, the Broncos didn’t get the play off in time and were called for a delay of game. They elected to then kick the extra point to tie the game up 13-13, it was missed, but Chicago was offsides.
Another 2-point conversion attempt came and, this time, Denver scored to take the 14-13 lead with a mere 31 seconds to play.
But, after a personal foul penalty was called on Bradley Chubb simply for playing football (and tackling quarterback Mitch Trubisky), Trubisky connected with Allen Robinson, who went down with one second left on the clock and somehow the Bears called a timeout.
Chicago ultimately kicked the game-winning field goal and sent the Broncos to 0-2 for the first time in 20 years.
The loss was a gut punch, but, to add insult to injury, it also set an NFL record as Elias Sports pointed out:
The Broncos became the first team to convert a 2-point attempt down 1 in the 4th quarter and still lose since the NFL adopted the 2-point conversion in 1994, according to @EliasSports. pic.twitter.com/zeTnoiBHSy
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) September 16, 2019
Denver failed to sack Trubisky and through two games they’ve yet to force a turnover. Garett Bolles was called for four holding penalties in the game and Isaac Yiadom missed multiple tackles, too.
All around, the Broncos have been a mistake-filled team through two games. In fact, there are more questions than answers surrounding the team.
And, for bad teams, weird and wacky records are sure to follow.
Next up, Denver (0-2) heads to Green Bay (2-0) to face the Packers and Aaron Rodgers at 11 a.m. MT on Sunday.