Did Refs Blow Fumble Call on Broncos Kickoff Return?

With just over three minutes remaining in the second quarter of Thursday night's game between the Denver Broncos and San Diego Chargers, Broncos receiver Andre Caldwell returned a kickoff 30 yards before San Diego's Kavell Conner appeared to force a fumble. 

Chargers tight end Ladarius Green then fell on the ball.

In real-time, Caldwell appeared to be losing control of the ball as he went to the ground, and the initial ruling on the field was a fumble. The replay official challenged the ruling, and as the play was reviewed, CBS rules analyst and former referee Mike Carey said on the CBS broadcast that he thought the fumble call would be upheld. 

After review, referee Terry McAulay reversed the ruling on the field, stating on the broadcast, "After review, the runner’s elbow was down and in complete control over the football." 

Per the letter of the NFL rulebook, "If the player loses possession after he has tucked the ball into his body, it is a fumble." McAulay clearly did not think that Caldwell ever lost possession of the ball, and he was supported by NFL vice president of officiating Dean Blandino. 

Some, such as the MMQB's Peter King, were vocally critical of yet another miss for Carey this season in his rules analysis.

Carey had another fumble-related faux pas in the Houston Texas-Indianapolis Colts Week 6 game when he insisted that an Andre Johnson fumble was actually an incomplete pass. 

However, many others agreed with Carey's initial assessment that Caldwell fumbled the ball—which Carey continued to reiterate later in the broadcast even after the official ruling came down. 

Denver went on to score a touchdown in the drive that followed the overturned fumble, going up 14-7 on the Chargers, who never regained the momentum they had immediately preceding the call. 

Whether Caldwell fumbled or not, Mark Maske of The Washington Post had the take-home point of the night: How can anyone feel confident in the rulings when the broadcast rules expert and the replay official arrive at two different conclusions after watching the same replay?

What do you think—was the initial call of fumble on the field correct, or did the replay official and Blandino get it right by reversing the ruling?

And, more importantly, was the call a devastating blow to San Diego's chances of winning this game?