The Bears’ last-second 16-14 victory over the Broncos in Week 2 had plenty of drama, including two key roughing-the-passer calls in the fourth quarter.
The biggest controversy was over a penalty against Broncos linebacker Bradley Chubb, who hit Mitch Trubisky as he released a five-yard completion to Trey Burton with 24 seconds left. The flag catapulted the Bears to their 45-yard line and put them within range to connect on a long pass to Allen Robinson, then win it on Eddy Pineiro’s 53-yard field goal on the last play.
The NFL reviewed Chubb’s hit and determined it did not warrant a fine, a source said. Typically, any roughing-the-passer penalty that the league deems to be a correct call is accompanied by a fine. Chubb protested the call at the time, and he appears to have been vindicated.
Broncos president John Elway said Thursday that league officials told him the referees were “dead wrong” to flag Chubb on that play.
The NFL also did not fine Bears nose tackle Eddie Goldman for his roughing-the-passer penalty on Joe Flacco early in the fourth. That play propelled the Broncos on a scoring drive to pull within 13-6.
There were questions about Bears outside linebacker Leonard Floyd’s unnecessary-roughness penalty, as well, and the NFL opted not to fine him for what looked like essentially a body slam of Broncos tight end Noah Fant in the first quarter.
