The Atlanta Falcons needed a big play early in the third quarter of Sunday’s game against the Denver Broncos at Empower Field at Mile High.

For a moment, the Falcons thought they had received one from safety Jessie Bates III. Instead, they were heartbroken.

Trailing 21-6 after the offense went three-and-out to start the second half, Atlanta’s defense put Denver’s offense in a 4th-and-3 situation. Broncos quarterback Bo Nix fired a pass over the middle to receiver Lil’Jordan Humphrey, who caught the ball short.

Then Bates delivered a hit to Humphrey, and the ball fell to the turf. Initially it was ruled an incomplete pass, giving the Falcons the ball back just short of midfield and only finding themselves trailing by two scores.

But the referees reviewed the play and overturned it. Humphrey cleverly pounced on the ball and his convincing recovery meant Denver retained possession. The Broncos scored a touchdown later in the drive, when receiver Troy Franklin took a screen pass and strolled into the end zone from seven yards out.

FOX analyst Mike Pereira came on air and said he found the overturned call “shocking.”

Pereira consulted with the NFL’s league office and explained the decision, citing the fact that Humphrey was still touching the ground with one foot when he initially made the catch. He added two more steps before Bates knocked the ball out.

Due to the time of the game and Humphrey taking three steps, the officials overturned the call.

And the Falcons were left scratching their heads, adding another grade to a long list of plays that just didn’t go Denver’s way.