Colorado’s Extra Down Might Be the One That the Rams Lost in ’68

The Missouri-Colorado game Saturday will forever be remembered as the Fifth Down Game. But there also was a Lost Down Game.

It happened at the Coliseum Dec. 8, 1968, when the Rams played the Chicago Bears.

The Rams, trailing, 17-16, were driving in the fourth quarter when the officials deprived them of a down.

The down should have remained the same after a holding penalty against the Rams, but the down marker was advanced.

The Rams ran out of downs and Chicago won. The loss in the next-to-last game of the regular season cost the Rams any chance of getting into the playoffs.

Later, when the error was discovered, the entire officiating crew was suspended from the playoffs by NFL Commissioner Pete Rozelle.