To set the scene: Bills quarterback Tyrod Taylor threw a third-down incompletion that went awry in large part because he knew Miller was about to drill him, which he did. The result of the play meant the Bills would have to punt to the Broncos, who were down by a single touchdown and would have had plenty of time to drive the length of the field. But, no: An official threw a flag against Von for acting as if he was going to help Taylor to his feet before pulling his hand away like a middle-schooler denying a high-five.
This action was clearly a joke, and Miller wasn't the only one who laughed at it: Cameras caught Taylor chuckling, too. But the refs weren't amused, and their punishment led directly to a Bills field goal that put the game out of reach.
Of course, the odds that Denver would have driven to a tying score were slim, particularly given the mediocrity displayed by Broncos quarterback Trevor Siemian in the second half; his two astonishingly embarrassing interceptions proved that sports-radio chatter about him deserving a giant, and immediate, contract extension was incredibly premature. Moreover, plenty of tweeters blamed Miller for this gaffe, as if he could have foreseen the bizarre ruling.
Not me. I remain incredulous over the call — and I'm not alone. Continue to count down proof, complete with GIFs of the moment in question.
Number 20:
NFL so soft for that Von Miller penalty grow the fuck up
— Best Defense 2-1 (@Thotcho) September 25, 2017
Number 19:
How the fuck is this a penalty lmaoo RT @NFLRT: Von Miller got a flag for pulling the oldest trick in the bookpic.twitter.com/uxBFrbBKsg
— Darealyst Clark (@Knownasvic) September 24, 2017
Number 18:
LOL at that Von Miller penalty. Fuck the NFL man.
— abS (@absdadon) September 24, 2017
Number 17:
Still so appalled that Von Miller got an unsportsmanlike penalty for a joke today #brutal
— Sam Goldsmith (@sgoldsmith94) September 25, 2017
Number 16:
this unsportsmanlike penalty call on @VonMiller is such a load of crap - Miller is known to joke around and have fun, no ill intent #Desoto https://t.co/i2jBKZ5BRW
— Shelby Mast (@BracketWAG) September 24, 2017
Number 15:
Just fucking sad Von Miller penalty was obviously a joke between him and Tyrod but its going to most likely cost them the game ........ wtf
— BrooklynBlazed (@BrooklynBlazed) September 24, 2017
Number 14:
.@NFL what a joke this league has become. That is a penalty on Von Miller?? For what?? Having fun?? Ridiculous.
— Michael Rourke (@MRourkeDA) September 24, 2017
Number 13:
Penalties for joke not #Kneeling?
— Kimberly (@KKMoriconi) September 25, 2017
Von Miller has a right to be livid after one of the worst penalty calls you'll see https://t.co/fNNrdUAOV3
Number 12:
I guarantee Tyrod Taylor thought this penalty was as stupid as Von Miller did https://t.co/Lbo12ln0LG
— Ryne Reynolds (@Reen_57) September 24, 2017
Number 11:
Dumbest penalty on Von Miller!!! They were joking and laughing. So fn stupid. #DENvsBUF
— Gidg333 (@GretchenDfwm) September 24, 2017