It was the most stunning late-game touchdown pass in the divisional round since Drew Pearson pushed Nate Wright to the ground more than 37 years ago.
Notwithstanding Pearson’s offensive pass interference in the game that coined the phrase “Hail Mary,” the Vikings failed to put safety Paul Krause in position to prevent a long touchdown pass. On Saturday, the Broncos committed a similar gaffe by not having safety Rahim Moore deep enough to keep Ravens receiver Jacoby Jones from running past the secondary and catching a game-tying touchdown pass.
It didn’t help that Moore grossly misplayed an underthrown ball, jumping too soon and flailing like a blindfolded kid trying to implode a piñata hanging three feet higher than his stick can reach.
Though Moore may eventually take the fall for the failure of the defense, defensive backs coach Ron Milus is the first one to go. Per multiple reports, Milus has been fired.
Milus re-joined the Broncos in 2011 with head coach John Fox, who had hired Milus in 2009 with the Panthers. Though it’s unclear whether Milus already was on thin ice, the unprecedented manner in which the Broncos squandered a late lead undoubtedly sealed his fate.