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Update: Aqib Talib has been suspended one game for this eye-poke. Talib plans to appeal
The Denver Broncos had made a living on their defense making big plays in big moments. In Week 9, they made another big play in a big moment - but it was terrible, uncalled for, unsportsmanlike, and cost them a chance to win the game.
Aqib Talib walked up to Colts tight end Dwayne Allen, casually reached up and into his facemask, and stuck his finger in his goddamn eye.
Talib did it right in front of the refs to boot. Which will always result in a 15-yard penalty, but the game-context of the penalty made it all the worse. The Colts were facing a 3rd-and-7 with 2:24 remaining. With a stop and a Colts field goal, Peyton Manning and the Broncos would have had two minutes to mount a comeback, down only six. Far crazier things have happened for the Broncos this year.
Instead, Talib did that, and the Colts ran down the clock, and the Broncos lost their first game of the year.
Penalties have been the bane of the Broncos' defense this year, and this time, in unbelievably dirty and dumb fashion, it cost them.