Lelie says dropped pass costly
By Ryan Thorburn
Special to The Advertiser
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You name it and they dropped it. Or were called for it.
Kenoy Kennedy and Sam Brandon were each burned by tight end Todd Heap for touchdowns.
Deltha O'Neal was ejected from the game after bumping into an official, one of five penalties called against the defense on one drive.
Jason Elam's missed field goal at the end of the first half was returned an NFL-record 108 yards for a touchdown by Chris McAlister.
And Baltimore put 31 points on the board in the second quarter en route to a 34-23 victory over Denver last night.
Yet Ashley Lelie pointed the finger at himself in the postgame locker room.
The rookie receiver from Hawai'i said he believes if he had held on to the reception that got away in the quarter, his team would have won.
"I felt I caught it, but I guess they said I didn't have possession of it before I hit the ground," Lelie recalled after losing for the first time in four career NFL games. "I just have to make sure I secure it and don't let the ball out next time."
The play in question occurred with 6:49 left in the first half and Baltimore leading 14-3. Brian Griese tossed his deepest ball of the evening down the middle to the streaking Lelie, who made what appeared to be a spectacular catch.
The official ruled the pass incomplete after the ball popped out on impact.
Denver coach Mike Shanahan asked for a review. The replay appeared to show that Lelie had possession inside the 5-yard line before the ground separated the ball from his body.
Upon further review, the official said Lelie never had possession.
"The refs obviously know the rules better than I do, and it wasn't a catch," said Lelie, whose catch could have helped regain momentum if the play was ruled the other way. "If I'd have made that play it would have been a whole different ball game. All the mistakes and stuff happened after that play."
Lelie finished with two catches for 24 yards.
