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Former Hokie standout wide receiver Eddie Royal didn’t put up the same numbers in his second game as a Denver Bronco, but he still helped his team to a crucial win over division rival San Diego. Royal had only five catches for 37 yards, one TD and a 2-point conversion, but the TD and conversion came in the final :30 seconds of the game.

Denver trailed 31-38 and faced a 4th and goal from the San Diego 10 yard line. Royal, who had only three catches up to that point, was virtually wide open in the end zone for the score that pulled the Broncos (2-0) to within one, 37-38. With :29 seconds on the clock, Denver head coach Mike Shanahan decided to go for the 2-point conversion and the win, rather than kick the extra point to tie the game and send it to overtime.

Perhaps Shanahan figured that his team shouldn’t have been in the game anyway thanks to two blown calls. The first was a Denver fumble recovery that wasn’t. However, the replay equipment wasn’t working, so the play could not be reviewed. The second was a Jay Cutler (Denver QB) fumble on 3rd and goal (right before the Royal TD) that was ruled an incomplete pass and the referee blew the play dead before San Diego recovered the fumble. San Diego has every right to be upset about that game. They should have won that game by two TDs. Expect an apology from the league later this week, not that it does any good.

Anyhow, Royal’s number was called once again on the most critical play of the game and Cutler found the rookie in double coverage for the game-winning 2-point conversion. The Broncos won 39-38 and improved to 2-0.

Royal saw less action in today’s game because starting wide receiver Brandon Marshall returned from a one-game suspension to catch 18 passes for 166 yards and touchdown. The 18 receptions in a game are the second most in NFL history, two behind Terrell Owens’ 20 against the Chicago Bears in 2000.

NFL.com highlights of the entire game.

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