There is a parallel universe where the Denver Broncos beat the Tennessee Titans 13-10 on Sunday, instead of suffering a defeat by the same score. In this parallel universe only three plays were different from those that unfolded at Nissan Stadium in Nashville, but they swung the momentum to Denver’s favor. In this different, better universe all Aqib Talib has to do is keep his cool.

Play No. 1 in This Universe – Unnecessary Roughness

Following a dirty block on Chris Harris by Titans wide receiver Harry Douglas, targeting Harris’ knee, Aqib Talib engages in some extra-curricular activities with Douglas on the sideline. The fight that ensues between Talib and Douglas results in a 15-yard unnecessary roughness penalty on Talib, which is tacked on to a Titans first down.

Play No. 1 in the Parallel Universe – Fear of Retaliation 

Talib bides is time and does not immediately enact retribution for Douglas’ dirty hit. Rather than tossing Douglas to the ground on the Titans sideline on the next play, Talib reminds the wideout that his punishment is coming – he just won’t know when. Tennessee still earns a first down, but Douglas takes the remainder of his snaps wondering when the retaliation will be levied. Consider it psychological warfare.

Play No. 2 in This Universe – The Succop FG 

Six plays and two penalties (one on Denver, one on Tennessee) later, Denver stops a third down and goal at their own 13 and gets some help from Marcus Mariota on an intentional grounding penalty. The 10-yard penalty moves them back and Ryan Succop must kick a 41-yard field goal. Succop makes the kick and the Titans take a 13-0 lead into the locker room after the Broncos fail to score on the final drive of the half.

Play No. 2 in the Parallel Universe – The Succop Kick 

With the rest of the drive playing out in exactly the same fashion, Succop’s field goal is now a 56-yarder. Knowing his team needs points badly, Mike Mularkey allows Succop to attempt a career-long field goal. Succop is just 13-for-25 in his career from 50+ yards, including just 1-of-3 this season. His career long is 54 yards (and came on a warm, early October day in Kansas City). Succop misses the field goal and even though Denver can’t put points on the board, Tennessee’s lead is just 10-0 at the half.

Play No. 3 in This Universe – Kubiak Gambles  

Trailing 13-0 and with no offense to speak of to that point, Gary Kubiak gambles on fourth-and-goal just six second into the fourth quarter. Trevor Siemian scrambles to keep the play alive but ultimately overthrows a pair of receivers in the end zone and Denver walks away empty-handed.

Play No. 3 in the Parallel Universe – Kubiak Takes the Points 

Trailing by only 10, Kubiak sends Brandon McManus out for a 21-yard field goal to open the scoring for Denver. The Broncos go on to hold Tennessee scoreless through the remainder of the game and put the same 10 points on the board they scored on their next two drives in this universe. Broncos win 13-10.

The Asterisk

Now, there’s a BIG asterisk on this, of course. On Denver’s final drive of the game, A.J. Derby fumbled the ball at the Broncos’ 29-yard line, giving Tennessee the ball with 53 seconds left to play. Because Denver was out of timeouts, the Titans could kneel on the ball for the win.

Obviously, Mularkey wouldn’t take a knee to kill the clock in that scenario and the Titans had two timeouts remaining, but it’s also not impossible to think that the Denver defense could have come up with a big stop and forced a 40+ yard field goal try.

Would Succop connect on a game-tying effort? That’s not impossible to consider either. But neither is Aqib Talib keeping his cool in this universe.