The Chicago Bears can't catch a break.
On Sunday, the Bears appeared to have caused a turnover deep in Indianapolis Colts territory, only for it to be ripped away from them.
With the Colts facing second-and-10 from their own 31-yard line, quarterback Anthony Richardson dropped back and immediately found himself in trouble. He was surrounded by Bears defenders, and Montez Sweat got a hand on him. But Richardson appeared to get away and tried to get a pass off when Chicago's DeMarcus Walker knocked the ball out of his hand. It fluttered forward and Andrew Billings grabbed it out of the air for an interception. Or so we thought.
It turned out officials declared the play dead and Sweat was credited with a sack. It was a ridiculous call considering Richardson was still free. The video is below.
Ruled not an interceptionpic.twitter.com/gLiJ9AY99w
— ✶ Ⓜ️𝕒𝕣𝕔𝕦𝕤 ▶️ ✶ (@_MarcusD3_) September 22, 2024
It does't sound like the whistle was blown and fans were not happy about the call.
I’m cool with the call IF THE REFS BLEW THE WHISTLE. THEY DID NOT. https://t.co/G6u2Yf7gNM
— Rick Molenhouse (@RRM1277) September 22, 2024
Tell me how this isn’t a INT? https://t.co/nr7ReHmllO
— Jacob (@Cbuck341) September 22, 2024
No whistle blown on this Anthony Richardson interception. But the refs called it forward progress.
— Lukas (@ayeeelukas) September 22, 2024
Andrew Billings & the Bears screwed out of a pick.
Colts getting bailed out by the refs 🤡 pic.twitter.com/UcDeA1o9CH
Bears force a fumble but the refs rule that Anthony Richardson's forward progress was stopped.
— Josh Schrock (@Schrock_And_Awe) September 22, 2024
It ... was not
Instead of having the ball deep in Colts' territory, the Bears held firm and forced a punt. Chicago's ensuing drive started at their 14-yard line.
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This article was originally published on www.si.com as Fans Couldn't Believe Bears Were Robbed of an Anthony Richardson Interception.