NFL admits Denico Autry’s unecessary roughness call was incorrect

The Colts had a slew of bad breaks on special teams the sum of which ultimately cost them their week one matchup against the Los Angeles Chargers. Adam Vinatieri uncharacteristically missed two field goals and an extra point, and they even had a blocked punt.

One miscue that cost them was the penalty for unnecessary roughness on Denico Autry during a Chargers field goal. It turns out that the call was the wrong one.

The Colts sent the call in for review to the NFL after Sunday’s game, and the NFL admitted that the call was incorrect. The end result was that the Chargers were given a new set of downs that resulted in them scoring a touchdown.

Given that the Colts lost a tough road game in overtime, the fact that this call was blown is especially galling. If they get those four points back, the Colts defense would have successfully held the Chargers’ first two drives to one field goal. That kind of stop gives a confidence and momentum boost to the defense, and more importantly keeps the game closer.

There is nothing to be done now, but getting burned by poor officiating makes the loss an even more bitter pill to swallow.