No, saying the ref gave the Broncos the game is not having a solid grip. Yes, it was a bad call, but to suggest that the ref gave the game to the Broncos is ludicrous.
Actually, it's not ludicrous, it's fact since the call came at a point where the game would have been over. It's really not even debatable: If it's called a fumble, which everyone who's seen it thought it was, the Chargers fall on the ball and they win. Instead, the call gave the Broncos the chance to win, which they took advantage of.
Yes, the Chargers still had chances on both the resulting plays to still win the game, but they didn't. That doesn't change the reality that those plays would never have happened if the correct call was made on the field.
I was shocked because that really is one of the best officiating crews out there, but they had a brutal game. It will be interesting to see if they get a playoff game this year- this game alone probably already cuts them out of the Super Bowl running. Does this crew get to do any more Chargers or Broncos games the rest of the year?
All of this should make the division fight a little nastier than it already was. I'm obviously not thrilled that the Chargers are 0-2, but I still think they'll be alright. Now, if they lose next week at home on Monday to the New York Favres, then I might start heading for the ledge.