Feb 13, 2022

  • Kevin SeifertESPN Staff Writer

    Shut

    • ESPN.com national NFL writer
    • ESPN.com NFC North reporter, 2008-2013
    • Covered Vikings for Minneapolis Star Tribune, 1999-2008

Your instincts were correct if y'all felt like NFL officials were throwing more flags in the 2021 season. Penalties ticked upwards to thirteen.88 per game during the regular season, a fleck higher than in the 2020 flavour (13.xiv) but still way beneath where they were in 2019 (16.17) and 2018 (fifteen.87).

That's the longer-term context as y'all lookout this year'due south postseason games. It would be a surprise if we saw many penalization-filled games, and with any luck we'll spend the next four weeks talking about the performance of players and coaches, not about the fouls that were called (or uncalled) confronting them.

But there are many rules-based twists and turns to consider beyond flags. In the 2020 AFC Title Game, for case, then-NFL senior vice president Al Riveron immune a review for a nonreviewable play. Ultimately, he reversed a call that should not have been looked at in the game that decided who would correspond the AFC in the Super Bowl.

We'll have all of your officiating needs covered in this post, which volition be updated as needed with dominion explanations, important context and other officiating trends. Come up forth for the ride. (The most recent plays are at the top.)

What happened at the end of the Rams' game-winning drive?

Rams-Bengals Super Bowl, 1:51-i:38 remaining in the quaternary quarter

What happened: A 4-play sequence on the most crucial possession of the game included four flags and i very big miss. Referee Ron Torbert's crew had thrown only four flags total up until that point.

How it was resolved: The Rams got an extra starting time downwardly but also had a touchdown taken off the board during the wild sequence, before taking the lead for good.

Analysis: The sequence began with the Rams facing second-and-goal at the Bengals' viii-thousand line. Torbert's coiffure decided confronting calling Bengals linebacker Germaine Pratt for defensive holding or pass interference on a pass over the eye to running back Darrell Henderson Jr. Replay showed Pratt materially restricting Henderson from getting to the brawl, both before Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford threw the ball and afterward.

On the side by side play, Torbert's crew mobilized. Information technology penalized Bengals linebacker Logan Wilson for belongings Rams receiver Cooper Kupp on another incomplete pass, giving the Rams a first down at their four-yard line. There appeared to be less aggressive contact past Wilson on that play, merely we have seen that telephone call fabricated in other NFL games this season that were beingness officiated more tightly than the Super Bowl.

The third play featured a touchdown pass to Kupp, nullified by offsetting penalties on Rams offensive lineman Rob Havenstein for holding and Bengals prophylactic Vonn Bell for unnecessary roughness. The penalty for Bell'due south belatedly hitting to Kupp's head afterward the score was certainly justified, while Havenstein'southward agree was not dissimilar to many other blocks that went uncalled over the course of the night.

On the 4th play, Bengals cornerback Eli Apple was penalized for laissez passer interference as he attempted to proceed Kupp from catching the ball in the end zone, giving the Rams some other ready of downs they ultimately didn't need.

Information technology's of import to view these calls every bit a whole because they exposed the tightrope officials walk when they do what most fans say they want: let the players play. Doing so invites players to ramp up their assailment and test how much they can get away with. By the end of the game, you have players blatantly grabbing each other, daring to be penalized. When officials inevitably throw their flags, they appear to be "inconsistent" or otherwise departing from the tone they have prepare during the residuum of the game. In truth, they are responding to the players' response to that tone.

Viewed on their ain, none of those flags was completely unjustified. But if you desire to know why officials of a sudden started throwing their flags in the last two minutes of the Super Bowl, the consequences of "letting them play" must exist a big part of the conversation.

No face mask call?

Rams-Bengals Super Bowl, xiv:44 remaining in the 3rd quarter

What happened: Bengals receiver Tee Higgins grabbed Rams cornerback Jalen Ramsey's confront mask and turned his head, pulling Ramsey out of position as Higgins jumped for a Joe Burrow pass.

How it was resolved: Higgins was not penalized, and his ensuing 75-thousand touchdown play counted.

Analysis: This was not an unexpected outcome for those who had been watching the game closely. Referee Ron Torbert's all-star crew threw only three flags in the first half, and all iii were unavoidable: ane for delay of game, ane for false start and one for unsportsmanlike conduct when an inactive Bengals player (cornerback Vernon Hargreaves III) ran onto the field to gloat an interception in street apparel.

That's a long mode of saying there was non a single flag for a "judgment" foul such as holding, pass interference and, yep, pulling a face mask. Keep in mind that Torbert's crew didn't throw a flag when Ramsey grabbed Higgins' bailiwick of jersey on a third-down incompletion at the goal line in the kickoff quarter, leaving the Bengals to kick a 29-g field goal. Based on the way the first half was called, both teams were well-brash to ramp upward the assailment in the second one-half, and Higgins did simply that. In every game, officials must guess whether contact with a player'due south face up mask is "forcible," as required by the rule book. Considering officials are human, interpretations can vary.

We have admittedly seen a flag for instances comparable to what Higgins did Dominicus. Just Torbert's crew, to that point at least, had conspicuously not been looking to insert itself into the game. It's upwards to players on both sides to accommodate.

The touchdown would non have counted, and the Bengals would have been penalized 15 yards, had a flag been thrown.

Illegal striking on Stafford?

49ers-Rams NFC Title Game, 7:04 remaining in the first quarter

What happened: Niners linebacker Fred Warner hit Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford's head with his own helmet following a 49ers interception, sending Stafford to the basis.

How information technology was resolved: There was no penalisation, and the 49ers took over at their 23-yard line.

Assay: Referee Carl Cheffers' coiffure should have thrown a flag. The NFL rulebook prohibits such contact against a quarterback following a change of possession "until he assumes a distinctly defensive position." Even afterward that, nevertheless, it is still a foul if "(1) an opponent forcibly hits the quarterback'southward caput or neck area with his helmet, facemask, forearm, or shoulder (ii) if an opponent lowers his head and makes forcible contact with whatsoever part of his helmet against any office of the passer'south torso." The rule goes on to say that "this provision does not prohibit incidental contact by the mask or the helmet in the course of a conventional block."

When you lot look at the play, it's clear that Warner took a shot at Stafford's caput from behind. Whether or not Stafford was attempting to make a tackle -- which he wasn't -- the hit was illegal co-ordinate to NFL rules. The penalty would accept been enforced afterward the modify of possession, so the 49ers would have retained possession.

No taunting for Loma?

Bills-Chiefs bounded-round game, 1:02 remaining in the fourth quarter

What happened: Chiefs receiver Tyreek Hill directed a "peace sign" toward Bills defenders every bit he neared the goal line at the end of a 64-g touchdown reception.

How information technology was resolved: Colina was not penalized, and the touchdown counted.

Assay: The NFL'southward 2021 emphasis on taunting was implemented in no modest role due to Loma'due south peace sign. He flashed it at the Buccaneers during a 2020 regular-flavour game. Buccaneers rubber Antoine Winfield Jr. returned the favor during Super Bowl LV. During the offseason, the NFL's coaches subcommittee implored the league's contest committee to crack downwardly on a form of taunting it believed should be banished from the game, leading to the second-most regular-season taunting flags (53) since at least 2001.

Referee John Hussey'due south crew didn't throw a flag. Information technology's difficult to imagine the level of vitriol if it had. Just if that isn't considered taunting in 2021, how practice you explicate what we saw the rest of the season -- and earlier Sun?

Weddle penalized for unnecessary roughness

Rams-Buccaneers bounded-circular game, 12:38 remaining in the fourth quarter

What happened: Rams safety Eric Weddle striking Buccaneers receiver Mike Evans in the head on a quaternary-downward incompletion.

How information technology was resolved: Referee Shawn Hochuli'due south coiffure penalized Weddle for unnecessary roughness because of a hit to the caput or cervix expanse of a caught receiver. The striking came a moment subsequently the ball hit the ground, making information technology a dead ball foul to be enforced on the change of possession.

Analysis: This was a correct enforcement of the NFL's complicated rulebook, one that was explained at length -- just accurately -- by Hochuli afterward. NFL rules declare a passing play over when the brawl is "caught by a player of either team or is incomplete." In other words, the play was over the moment the ball hit the ground. Considering Weddle's hit came after it, the Rams technically had possession of the ball when it happened.

The rulebook declares a dead ball foul equally one that "occurs in the continuing action after the down ends." An statement could be made that it's not off-white to make such an important distinction on two events that happen and then close to each other. Information technology'south not as though Weddle knew the pass was already incomplete. But ultimately that's the style the rulebook is written.

Could the rule be changed? That's unclear. Perhaps the NFL could add together some additional teeth to histrion safety rules by deciding that they can't be considered expressionless ball fouls. Merely for at present, Hochuli made the only ruling he could.

Brady gets first taunting/unsportsmanlike carry call of career

Rams-Buccaneers divisional-circular game, 10:39 remaining in the second quarter

What happened: Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady was hit by Rams pass-rusher Von Miller, apparently causing his lower lip to bleed.

How it was resolved: Referee Shawn Hochuli did not penalize Miller's hit, merely he did throw a flag on Brady for taunting, manifestly for complaining about the conclusion not to throw the initial flag.

Analysis: Among the criteria for roughing the passer in the NFL rulebook is "forcibly striking the passer'due south head or neck expanse with the helmet or facemask." Information technology's reasonable to conclude that Miller striking Brady's "caput or neck area" with force if it caused his lip to bleed. So Brady had a point at that place.

Should he take been penalized for the fashion he spoke to Hochuli? It's hard to ignore the coincidence of what happened. Brady had never been chosen for taunting or unsportsmanlike conduct in his career, regular season or postseason, according to ESPN Stats & Data research. Just last week, in fact, Brady told Jim Gray, the host of his podcast, that "they probably allow me get away with a lot of unsportsmanlike conducts, talking smack to the other teams and talking smack to the refs when I don't think I get the right phone call. I'm kind of a pain in their ass if y'all don't already know that."

Equally nosotros've noted many times, the NFL made taunting a betoken of accent this season. Simply the primary betoken was to minimize the instances of a player engendering ill volition between teams. The Rams weren't going to be incited by whatever Brady said to Hochuli. We don't know what Brady said to Hochuli, but it would have been excessively rude and disrespectful to ascent to the level of a 15-thousand penalization in a playoff game.

Update: In a pool study, Hochuli said that Brady "got in my face up in an aggressive manner and used abusive linguistic communication." Ultimately, it'southward on Hochuli to make up one's mind whether the aggression rises to the level of a foul. He likewise said that he didn't think Miller's hit "rose to the level of roughing the passer."

Was the taunting call on Suh warranted?

Rams-Buccaneers divisional-round game, 4:54 remaining in the first quarter

What happened: Buccaneers defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh hit Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford, and their bodies got tangled on the ground. Stafford pulled his legs out to stand up up, after which Suh yelled at Stafford and pointed his right index finger at him.

How it was resolved: Referee Shawn Hochuli penalized Suh for taunting, eliminating an incomplete pass on starting time downwardly and moving the brawl from the Buccaneers' 33-g line to their 18-yard line. As Hochuli made the announcement, Suh could be heard saying that Stafford had kicked him.

Analysis: Suh'due south contention that Stafford kicked him is a generous interpretation of what happened, to say the to the lowest degree. Remember, Suh is the player who in 2011 said that he hadn't kicked Packers center Evan Smith during an infamous Thanksgiving Mean solar day game in Detroit. He has had a quick fuse for much of his career. With that said, did his actions institute "taunting?"

The NFL's rulebook defines it equally "acts or words that may engender ill will between teams." For most of the NFL'southward history, a player verbalizing abrupt words wouldn't have risen to the level of taunting. Just the league put a point of emphasis on this foul during the 2021 flavour, at the request of coaches. There were 53 taunting penalties during the regular flavour, the 2d near in a season since at to the lowest degree 2001, according to ESPN Stats & Information.

The call, while not unexpected, was a meaning turning indicate in the offset quarter. Instead of facing 2nd-and-10 at the 33, the Rams got a outset down at the 18 and scored a touchdown iii plays later to extend their lead to x-0.

Officials rule San Francisco incomplete pass, not fumble

49ers-Packers divisional-round game, three:06 remaining in the commencement quarter

What happened: Replay officials reviewed 49ers receiver Brandon Aiyuk'south fumble at the Packers' 43-yard line.

How it was resolved: Referee Ron Torbert announced that the call had been reversed to an incomplete laissez passer.

Analysis: This was the correct consequence. An NFL catch has 3 elements. According to the rulebook, they are:

  1. Securing control of the ball in the hands or arms prior to the brawl touching the ground.

  2. Touching the ground inbounds with both feet or with whatever role of the trunk other than the hands.

  3. Afterward the first ii have been fulfilled, performing any act mutual to the game (e.k., tuck the ball away, extend it forward, take an boosted pace, plow upfield, or avoid or ward off an opponent), or maintaining control of the ball long enough to practice so.

The replay showed that after Aiyuk gained control of the brawl, he took ane step and and then had the brawl knocked out of his hands by Packers cornerback Rasul Douglas. In other words, Aiyuk did not agree the brawl long plenty to perform an act common to the game.

The easiest way to call back of these is to look for three steps afterwards securing the ball. The first two steps comprehend the 2nd element of a catch, and the additional step would comprehend the third element. The NFL has had some strange interpretations of its catch dominion this season, merely this ruling was accurate based on its electric current rules.

Burrow interception stands equally called vs. Titans

Bengals-Titans divisional-round game, i:28 remaining in the 3rd quarter

What happened: Replay officials reviewed Titans safety Amani Hooker's interception of Bengals quarterback Joe Couch at the Bengals' 27-m line.

How it was resolved: Referee Clete Blakeman announced that the telephone call on the field would stand up, giving the Titans possession at a key moment in the game. They scored the tying touchdown iv plays later.

Assay: Irksome-motion replays indicated that the ball probably touched the footing as Hooker was making the interception. The key question was whether Hooker had possession before the ball hit the footing.

If it hit the ground before he gained possession, the call would be incomplete. If he gained possession outset, the telephone call would be an interception. Information technology can still exist an interception if the ball hits the ground after that point, as long as information technology doesn't move. In this case, it did not.

Blakeman did not offer an explanation for the ruling, other than to say that the original phone call stood. And so in truth, the NFL didn't have to decide on the question of possession. Call back, the league has a long-held replay standard. It needs clear and obvious evidence of a mistake to overturn the call on the field. Based on multiple replay angles, information technology was a close call. By definition, close calls shouldn't exist overturned via replay. In this example, it was non, and that was a very fair upshot.

Update: The NFL tweeted out an caption that made articulate its replay executives determined that Hooker was "securing the ball simply before it touches the ground" and that he "never loses possession and maintains control of the ball when it does touch the ground."

Based on the tweet, the NFL did in fact brand a call on the play itself, rather than simply lean on its "clear and obvious" standard. That's a scrap surprising, but it got united states to the right spot regardless.

Baker injured on a collision

Cardinals-Rams wild-card game, 1:51 remaining in third quarter

What happened: Cardinals condom Budda Baker suffered a concussion, and possibly boosted injuries, after a collision with Rams running dorsum Cam Akers.

How it was resolved: No flags were thrown as a event of the hit, but at that place was an offensive property punishment enforced on Rams offensive lineman David Edwards.

Assay: There was a lot going on with this play. The outset matter for referee Clay Martin to make up one's mind was whether Baker and/or Akers lowered the helmet to initiate contact with the other, which would exist a violation of the NFL'south "utilise of helmet" rule. The replay showed Akers lowering his helmet as Baker arrived with his helmet down equally well. Simply neither player overtly used his helmet to initiate contact, and equally ESPN rules analyst John Parry said on air: "It looks like they're trying to become the shoulders in and the caput out. Merely exactly what we want." The utilize of helmet rule has grown so confusing and hard to officiate that the NFL instructed referees to stop referring to it in their penalty announcements, every bit we noted during the regular season.

Only this example did not appear to be a violation.

Information technology was surprising, nevertheless, that Martin's coiffure didn't flag Akers for taunting Bakery after the hit. Every bit Baker lay on the ground, Akers stepped past and used a hand gesture that told Bakery to stay down. That reaction prompted several members of the Cardinals to engage angrily with Akers, forcing officials to separate the teams.

NFL officials threw 52 flags for taunting during the regular season, the 2nd most in a entrada since at least 2001, equally function of a point of emphasis. Suffice it to say, they penalized many gestures and acts of far less consequence than what Akers did. No one would have protested that flag, particularly considering the way it engendered ill volition betwixt the teams -- exactly what the rule is intended to avoid.

Akers tweeted after the game that he didn't initially realize Baker was injure on the play.

Did Green take hold of information technology?

Cardinals-Rams wild-menu game, 8:13 remaining in second quarter

What happened: Cardinals receiver A.J. Green pulled in a pass from quarterback Kyler Murray at the Cardinals' 26-yard line and was striking past Rams safety Nick Scott, at which indicate the ball fell to the ground.

How it was resolved: Referee Clay Martin's crew originally chosen a catch and a fumble. After a challenge from Rams coach Sean McVay, the call was reversed to an incomplete pass.

Analysis: It wouldn't be a playoff game without a catch dominion dispute, right? For some reason, the NFL struggled to adjudicate the take hold of dominion all season. To secure a catch, electric current NFL rules crave a role player to gain control of the ball in bounds and then make "any act mutual to the game (e.1000., tuck the ball away, extend it forward, take an boosted step, turn upfield, or avert or ward off an opponent)." The rule goes on to say: "Information technology is non necessary that he commit such an act, provided that he maintains control of the ball long enough to do then."

When you lot scout the replay, Greenish took a hop-step later on the brawl landed in his hands and and then immediately lost control of the ball when he was hitting. He did non fulfill the third element of a catch, and the NFL'south replay office in New York was correct to opposite the call.

The decision was clear enough that it's fair to question why the replay official on site did not pace in immediately to correct the phone call, every bit happened hundreds of times this season under the league's new video assist rule. Martin's crew spent an extended amount of time discussing the call, suggesting it was in communication with the replay official, but the original call stood until McVay was required to apply a challenge.

McVay's challenge was not without risk. Had the call stood, he would accept been out of challenges for the rest of the game. The play was eventually adjudicated correctly, which is the well-nigh important part, but it took more time than it needed to.

Cowboys run out of fourth dimension

49ers-Cowboys wild-carte game, 0:xiv remaining in 4th quarter

What happened: The clock ran out as the Cowboys attempted to snap the ball from the 49ers' 24-chiliad line on the final play of the game.

How it was resolved: Referee Alex Kemp declared the game over, fifty-fifty after the snap was delayed for umpire Ramon George to adjust the spot.

Analysis: Kemp and George did their jobs. With 14 seconds remaining, Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott had run for 17 yards on a designed describe. Usually in that state of affairs, NFL players are brash to hand the ball directly to the umpire or another official to expedite the spotting of the ball. By rule, there tin can't be a snap until an official has touched the brawl to confirm and/or adjust the spot.

Instead, Prescott handed the ball to center Tyler Biadasz, who put the ball on the ground at about the 24-g line and stood over it as the residual of the Cowboys' criminal offence assembled. George had to button through their line to go to the ball, using valuable seconds. The snap came with one second remaining, rendering Prescott's fasten meaningless.

This was entirely the fault of the Cowboys, from the risky playcall with no timeouts remaining to Prescott'southward inability to hand the ball to an official. Kemp and his coiffure did exactly what they would be expected to do.

Delay of game trying to grab the Niners off guard

49ers-Cowboys wild-card game, thirteen:26 remaining in fourth quarter

What happened: The Cowboys attempted to rush to the line with their punt team after converting a fake punt into a beginning down. And then, with 17 seconds left on the game clock, the Cowboys sent their criminal offence onto the field for the commencement-down play.

How it was resolved: Umpire Ramon George stood virtually the eye, preventing a snap. He moved into position with two seconds remaining on the play clock, leading to a delay of game for the Cowboys.

Analysis: Every bit CBS analyst Tony Romo noted, the Cowboys were probable trying to catch the 49ers off guard for a second consecutive play. By keeping their punt team on the field and their offense on the sideline, they probably hoped to coerce the 49ers into calling a timeout.

It didn't work, of class. And after they sent their offense onto the field, the Cowboys activated an NFL rule that requires officials to give the defense a reasonable risk to substitute. Here'south what the rule says: "If a substitution is fabricated by the offense, the offense shall not exist permitted to snap the ball until the defense has been permitted to respond with its substitutions."

It was upwardly to referee Alex Kemp to make up one's mind how long to give the 49ers to substitute. We could quibble well-nigh whether they needed 15 seconds to substitute, simply the blame here goes to the Cowboys, who called for a high-run a risk play that would accept netted a pocket-sized gain -- at best.

Darden takes a late hit

Eagles-Buccaneers wild-card game, 12:01 remaining in the quaternary quarter

What happened: Buccaneers offset returner Jaelon Darden brought back a commencement 18 yards to the 22-yard line, and Darden took a belatedly hit.

How information technology was resolved: The ball was moved back to the 10-g line because of a holding call on the Buccaneers' Rob Gronkowski, who was on the field as part of the hands team.

Analysis: Officials missed a late and blatant hit on Darden that was illegal for multiple reasons. Replays showed that Darden was tackled by Eagles safety Marcus Epps. Darden had started getting upward, with his left knee notwithstanding on the ground, when the Eagles' KeeSean Johnson lowered his caput and hitting Darden'southward helmet. The contact was forcible enough to knock Darden backward and onto his back, where he lay for several moments.

At that place is definitely an argument for property back on some flags at the terminate of a blowout, but rules regarding player prophylactic should always be enforced. Darden's striking was illegal because it was late, and also because it was a textbook violation of the helmet dominion, which prohibits players from lowering their helmet to initiate contact with an opponent.

A borderline roughing-the-passer call for a hit on Brady?

Eagles-Buccaneers wild-menu game, xiv:28 remaining in the get-go quarter

What happened: Eagles defensive end Derek Barnett hit Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady afterwards he released a pass that savage incomplete.

How it was resolved: Referee Craig Wrolstad penalized Barnett for roughing the passer, moving the brawl 15 yards downfield.

Analysis: Wrolstad'south regular-season crew threw the 2d-most flags for roughing the passer (12), and since the referee is usually the official that watches for that foul, it was reasonable to expect relevance on Sunday. As it turned out, we heard from Wrolstad within the first infinitesimal of the game -- and not for good reason.

Barnett hit Brady beneath the waist, but to a higher place the knee. The NFL rulebook states: "A defender cannot initiate a ringlet or lunge and forcibly hit the passer in the knee expanse or below, even if he is being contacted by another player."

This was a rule the NFL developed in part afterwards Brady suffered a torn ACL on a low hitting in 2008. Merely non even a charitable viewing of the contact would suggest it practical to this rule. The striking was legal, and if you have whatsoever dubiety, you can note that Brady himself never appealed to Wrolstad for a flag.

Was this really roughing the passer?

Raiders-Bengals wild-card game, 1:51 remaining in the quaternary quarter

What happened: Bengals defensive end Khalid Kareem made contact with Raiders quarterback Derek Carr after Carr released a 15-yard pass to running back Josh Jacobs.

How it was resolved: Referee Jerome Boger threw a flag for roughing the passer. The additional 15 yards gave the Raiders a 30-yard gain in full, putting the ball at the Bengals' 35-yard line as the Raiders were driving for what could take been the game-tying (or winning) score.

Analysis: The NFL has moved in dramatic ways over the years to protect quarterbacks, creating rules that prohibit them from beingness hit forcibly in the head or cervix area, too every bit below the human knee, when they are in the pocket or otherwise in a defenseless posture.

Boger did not specify why the flag was thrown, but at best, it appeared Kareem's right shoulder or arm grazed Carr's helmet. It would be upwardly to Boger at that point to determine whether that contact was "forcible." He is not tasked with taking into account the game state of affairs, just you lot would similar to come across any phone call be obvious to the viewer -- whether it is the quaternary quarter of a playoff game or the first quarter in Calendar week one.

Carr did what he should have done; he made his case to Boger by snapping his head back and pointing to his helmet. Information technology is always possible that another angle would show more forcible contact, only from what we could run across on the NBC replay, information technology was not.

Errant whistle on Cincy touchdown

Raiders-Bengals wild-card game, 1:51 remaining in 2nd quarter

What happened: Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow scrambled toward the right sideline on a third-down play from the Raiders' 10-yard line. With the ball in the air, a whistle could conspicuously be heard on the NBC broadcast. Bengals receiver Tyler Boyd caught the pass for a touchdown.

How it was resolved: After a lengthy discussion among officials, led past referee Jerome Boger, the play was ruled a touchdown.

Analysis: Unless the whistle came from the crowd or someone other than one of the seven officials on the field, this should not have been a touchdown. At that place are two options here. Either the whistle was intended to rule Burrow out of bounds, or information technology was an inadvertent whistle. In either example, NFL rules require the play to exist ended at the time of the whistle.

NFL rule vii, Section 2, Article one(k) states: "[W]hen an official sounds the whistle erroneously while the ball is nevertheless in play, the brawl becomes dead immediately." In this case, the dominion goes on to state: "If the ball is in player possession, the team in possession may elect to put the ball in play where it has been declared dead or to replay the downward."

The touchdown should non accept counted, and the play should have been replayed. It is not reviewable. Players ofttimes terminate playing when they hear a whistle, and it'due south inherently unfair to allow post-whistle activeness to count.

A like play occurred during a 2015 game between the Patriots and Bills. In that instance, referee Gene Steratore correctly halted the play, even as Patriots receiver Danny Amendola was running upfield, merely erred in placing the ball at the spot where Amendola was when the whistle blew.

Postgame update: Walt Anderson, the NFL'southward senior vice president of officiating training and development, said in a pool report after the Bengals' 26-nineteen win that Boger's crew decided "the whistle for them on the field was blown later the receiver caught the ball."

Suffice information technology to say, Boger's judgment here does non line upward with any of the available evidence. The whistle was audible on the broadcast well before Boyd caught the ball. But given the structure of the rules, this explanation is the but possible justification for allowing the touchdown.

It should be noted that Anderson didn't say anything to indicate he supported (or rejected) the explanation. He appears simply to have passed along the on-field judgment on a play that wasn't reviewable.

Notwithstanding, it strains credulity for this to be the NFL'due south official line. Whoever blew the whistle on the field knows when he did it. The players who appeared to stop before Boyd caught the ball knew when they heard it. Millions of television viewers knew when they heard information technology. While it might have been painful, the more credible explanation would take been something that confirmed -- even in retrospect -- that a rule was misapplied and that the unabridged sequence didn't come across NFL standards.

Finally, the pool report did not include whatever discussion most why the NFL did not use its new video help plan to step in and correct the mistake. It'due south truthful that erroneous whistles are non reviewable, only the video assist dominion allows replay officials and the league'southward officiating department in New York City to "suggest the game officials on specific, objective aspects of a play when clear and obvious video evidence is nowadays, and/or to address game administration issues."

To be clear: Addressing an erroneous whistle is an authoritative upshot. Deciding whether at that place was an erroneous whistle is a nonreviewable judgment call. The NFL had a way out here -- telling Boger in real fourth dimension that the down should exist replayed -- and information technology's a mystery why it did not.

Raiders beginning drive at ii-yard line after returner steps out of premises

Raiders-Bengals wild-menu game, i:18 remaining in first quarter

What happened: Raiders offset returner Peyton Barber grabbed the bouncing ball almost the sideline and stepped out of bounds at the 2-chiliad line.

How it was resolved: Barber was ruled down at the ii, putting the Raiders in terrible field position for their third possession of the game.

Analysis: Barber was trying to capitalize on a fiddling-known NFL rule in an effort to go the ball marked at the 40-yard line. What he wanted to do was step out of premises and and then touch the ball. When a ball touches a player after he has established himself out of bounds, the brawl is ruled out of bounds at that point. Had Hairdresser stepped out first, the Bengals would have been penalized for a offset out of bounds, and past dominion, referee Jerome Boger would have spotted the ball the forty. But because Barber grabbed the ball earlier that, he was ruled to have run out of bounds with possession of the brawl.

Multiple teams have tried to leverage that dominion in contempo years by deliberately stepping out of bounds and so reaching for the ball, most notably the Green Bay Packers' Randall Cobb in 2012.