It’s already been a few days but Chicago Bears fans are still talking about the game in New Orleans. Much of the furious debate centers around how bad the officiating crew was. There were a host of awful calls across the four quarters. However, none could even hold a candle to the mind-boggling sequence late in the third on the Zach Miller touchdown. Or non-touchdown.
Trailing 14-3, the Bears were driving deep in Saints territory. On third down, Mitch Trubisky dropped back to throw and lofted a 25-yard strike to the end zone. Tight end Zach Miller appeared to collect the pass with one hand for the touchdown. Unfortunately the 33-year old suffered a gruesome dislocated knee on the play.
Zach Miller broke his leg!! Prayers!!!🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻 #ZachMiller #zachmillerleg #chicagobears #bears #CHI pic.twitter.com/Fw9nFM2DVM
— 👉🏻 (@aFewAmigos) October 30, 2017
It was a gorgeous play that ended in tragedy for Miller who was swiftly taken to the hospital. There he discovered he’d torn the main artery in his knee and almost lost the entire bottom half of his leg. Thankfully the rapid response of the doctors allowed them to repair the issue and he’s now recovering. Yet for Miller the worst part was what came right after the play itself.
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Referees VPs join in bafflement of Zach Miller touchdown overturn
As the medics were getting him off the field, the call came in from the refs that the touchdown had been overturned because Miller had failed to maintain control. Yet every conceivable replay showed no evidence that the ball had hit the group. The game announcers were flummoxed by the overturn. Even several players took to social media saying it was a terrible call.
Of course the most interesting opinions to get are from current or former referees who understand the job. In that regard there was no change in opinion. Top guys Mike Pereira and Dean Blandino who represented the headquarters in New York were clear on where they stood.
Former NFL officiating VPs Mike Pereira, Dean Blandino both say Zach Miller clearly scored Sunday. They don't know why his TD was overturned
— Michael David Smith (@MichaelDavSmith) October 31, 2017
Losing the TD proved to be the decisive moment of the game. If the Bears get it called their way, it’s 14-10 with plenty of time left. This means their touchdown later in the game wouldn’t have required a two-point conversion attempt. That would’ve made it 20-17 when Chicago began their final drive of the game. Only a field goal would’ve been needed to tie the game. It changes how both the offense and defense plays.
In the end it went down the way it did and the Bears now know they got robbed.
