Marvin Mims’ ‘Fumble’ Torpedoed Denver’s Game, And Sean Payton Still Has No Answers

The Denver Broncos took a tough 24-14 loss against the San Francisco 49ers yesterday, but it wasn’t just the score that had folks boiling. Midway through the third quarter, with the game knotted up 3-3, a punt return by wide receiver Marvin Mims turned into a full-blown controversy that swung the whole game.

The Play That Blew Up The Game

Mims was back for the return, caught the punt, and as he tried to dive for extra yards, his wrist hit the ground. The ball then jarred loose, and the 49ers swooped in for the recovery. On the TV broadcast, it absolutely looked like Mims’ forearm was already down, which means he should have been down by contact. No fumble, no turnover, just a regular punt return. But nope, the play went under review and the call on the field? Upheld. That’s right, the officials stuck with the fumble. It was a brutal gut punch. Immediately after that call, San Francisco marched down the field, scored a touchdown, took the lead, and never let it go.

Nobody’s Happy With That Call

You just knew Broncos fans were going to erupt, and they did. Broncos Twitter absolutely exploded, and it’s safe to say none of them were happy with how that pivotal play went down. Even Coach Sean Payton couldn’t get a real explanation, saying he never received a full one on the play. When the officials miss a call that big, and it shifts the entire momentum and outcome of a game, it leaves a sour taste that’s hard to shake.

Hopefully, the Broncos can somehow recover from this brutal loss and rebound in a very big way. They’ve got the Los Angeles Chargers up next on the schedule. Meanwhile, here in the Emerald City, our Seahawks just put up a massive W against those very same Los Angeles Chargers, winning 30-23 in a tight one. It’s a different vibe when the calls go your way, huh? Here’s hoping the Broncos can shake off that L and get back to business next week.

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Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.