Denver Broncos’ fans across North America are still buzzing about their team’s electric game-winning drive to beat the Los Angeles Chargers on the final play of their Week 8 match-up.
Much of the talk has centered around Broncos’ quarterback Drew Lock’s late game heroics, including a last second touchdown pass to receiver K.J. Hamler. That play was set up by a pass interference call in the end zone against Chargers’ defensive back Brandon Facyson for interfering with Denver tight end Albert Okwuegbunam.
But it was a pass interference call earlier in the final drive against another Charger, former Canadian Football League ratio-breaking cover man Tevaughn Campbell, that made the dramatic ending possible.
With the Broncos scrimmaging third and eight from their own 40-yard-line, Campbell was flagged for pass interference by getting to the same Denver tight end early. The foul not only moved the Broncos five yards closer, but more importantly gave them a fresh set of downs with one minute and 27 seconds left in the game.
The play was critical on many levels as Denver had only one timeout left and were staring down the barrel of a 2-5 start and an almost certain death-watch for not only their season, but also head coach Vic Fangio’s job.
Now it’s the Chargers who will face those same questions about themselves and their head coach Anthony Lynn. Los Angeles sits 2-5 despite the stellar play of rookie first-round quarterback Justin Herbert.
For the first time in his career, Campbell made the active 53-man roster to start an NFL season in 2020. He impressed Chargers’ decision-makers and earned his spot in the secondary out of training camp.
The 27-year-old appeared in two games with Los Angeles last season, though he failed to register any statistics. He’s already played in five contests through eight weeks of the current schedule, making six tackles and forcing one fumble.
That last drive by the Broncos won’t go down as a favourite memory in Campbell’s young NFL career, however, it could provide a valuable learning experience for the ultra-athletic Canadian.
