After getting a second chance from a Buffalo Bills penalty, Denver Broncos kicker Wil Lutz converted a 36-yard field goal to secure a 24-22 win on Monday Night Football in Week 10.
After the game, there was some controversy on Twitter from fans who think Denver punter Riley Dixon used a sticky substance to be able to hold the ball for Lutz’s kick. Earlier in the game, Dixon mishandled a snap, leading to a failed extra-point attempt.
On the game-winning field goal, video showed what looked like a Stickum-like substance on the back of Dixon’s right hand. NFL rules, of course, do not allow players to use adhesives on their bodies to help grip the ball.
Here’s video of the play that shows the back of Dixon’s hand:
Twitter was quick to accuse Denver’s holding of cheating.
@NFL is this legal pine tar on the Broncos holder hands? pic.twitter.com/ze6FVnVXX4
— William DeMayo (@billymad1son) November 14, 2023
What’s on the holder’s hand? Pine tar??#mnf
#broncos #Bills pic.twitter.com/LOrbdvUgq2— Michael Rainey (@mRainey) November 14, 2023
I think the broncos holder had pine tar on the back of his hand for that last kick???
— uǝʞuɐɹɟ xǝןɐ (@thealexfranken) November 14, 2023
The Broncos place holder had pine tar on his hand, that’s not legal @nfl
— Samuel Ellis (@Sellis_53) November 14, 2023
TRENDING: #Bills fans are calling out the #Broncos holder for having SPIDER TACK on his hand to help handle the ball
👀
(📸 @SethHachmeister) pic.twitter.com/iOeoqfWO4n
— MLFootball (@_MLFootball) November 14, 2023
Broncos’ holder with pine tar on his hand? Is this allowed?? Can we get a between innings ump check for sticky stuff? #MNF pic.twitter.com/HAD2ezdRdf
— Iguana (@IguanaPinata) November 14, 2023
Is that stickum on the holders hand? Are my foreign substances banned in the NFL @PFTCommenter @PMTsportsbiz @BarstoolBigCat pic.twitter.com/M7yAUVuAKx
— JS (@four1shue) November 14, 2023
Not a NARC but this is interesting. Again, thankfull i won the gremlin bet (as well as 2 others plus another I didnt post online nbd) but its interesting https://t.co/q8d8db28ub pic.twitter.com/fD1oRFNK9O
— PFT Commenter (JMU 10-0) (@PFTCommenter) November 14, 2023
Other fans pointed out that it looked like an injury.
I thought it was scab or a cut. Postgame they showed him hugging the kicker and it looked more reddish like blood.
— Ant 🐜 (@TheSlimRipper23) November 14, 2023
I think this is probly right. Glad we got to the bottom of it https://t.co/Wp2avFidjT
— PFT Commenter (JMU 10-0) (@PFTCommenter) November 14, 2023
Upon further review, it appears that Dixon had a turf burn on his hand, perhaps from earlier in the game when he botched a hold on an extra-point attempt. If the NFL had reason to believe he used a sticky substance, it wouldn’t be hard to investigate. Such an investigation would not take long if Dixon has a turf burn on the back of his hand, which seems likely.
Update: Mike Klis chimed in to say it was a “raw skin scab.”
Fun conspiracy theory but real story a little more painful. That’s a raw skin scab after falling on ball from earlier in game. Ouch. https://t.co/ranc3I2UX1
— Mike Klis (@mikeklis) November 15, 2023
That had to be painful.
