I'm not saying the referees had too much influence on this game. I'm also not saying the coaches should get a pass for not having their players conduct themselves with a bit more discipline. But I'm certain the truth exists somewhere in between (head butts, theatrical bows and fist bumps aside).
Here's what the stat sheet would have you believe the penalty breakdown looked like:
Buffalo-11 for 98 yards
Denver-5 for 45 yards
Already those numbers are a bit lopsided, unless we buy into the notion that one team had half the discipline as the other. Again, head butts, theatrical bows and fist bumps aside.
But here's how those penalties actually played out:
Buffalo-11 for 207
Denver-5 for 45
Now THAT'S a pretty lopsided impact for penalties to have, if you ask me.
Additional yards not counted in the penalty yards actually recorded:
BUF: 14 additional yards on the Robey illegal contact since the drive was then sustained, giving the Broncos an opportunity to score
BUF: 40 additional yards for the Kyle Williams hold following the interception since the return went to the Denver 20, but the drive instead took over from our own 40, a difference of 50 yards.
BUF: 34 additional yards for the pass interference on Stephon Gilmore that gave them an opportunity to continue the drive after what should have been a third down stop. 15 yard penalty would never have happened if they got the initial call right
BUF: 21 additional yards on the phantom unnecessary roughness penalty that brought Gilmore's INT return from the DEN 38 all the way back to the BUF 26
I count zero instances wherein calls against Denver had the same positive outcomes for Buffalo. If I'm missing any, please post them here,