The Cincinnati Bengals outplayed the Buffalo Bills through the first half of Sunday’s AFC Divisional Round playoff game, taking a 17-7 lead at halftime. But should that lead have been even bigger? Several people watching the game seemed to think so.
Late in the second quarter, Cincinnati’s Joe Burrow and Ja’Marr Chase connected on what appeared to be a 10-yard touchdown pass. It was initially ruled a touchdown, which temporarily gave the Bengals a 20-7 lead, with the PAT pending. Only, the play was reviewed.
As chase was going to the ground, Buffalo’s Matt Milano swiped at the ball. And while Chase had a grasp on the ball for his entire time going to the ground, it did move in his hands. With that, the ruling was overturned and the touchdown was taken off of the board.
The Bengals had to settle for a field goal after this was ruled to *not* be a Ja'Marr Chase touchdown after review.
17-7 Cincinnati.🏈 pic.twitter.com/SFYtKjyrqi
— The Comeback (@thecomeback) January 22, 2023
Whether it’s Calvin Johnson in 2010 or Dez Bryant in 2015, catch rules have long been a source of debate among NFL fans. This was no different.
Several people watching the game were left frustrated that a great catch was overturned. Even if, by the letter of the rulebook, the right call was made.
What thorough nonsense.
That was absolutely 50/50 and called a catch on the field.
That’s everything that’s wrong with replay.
It was never intended for that level of objective minutiae. #Bengals— Mike Greenberg (@Espngreeny) January 22, 2023
"Everyone thought that they saw something amazing, but by studying it through powerful telescopes we find minute evidence it didn't really happen." What a way to ruin sports.
— Vincent Verhei (@VincentVerhei) January 22, 2023
Some NFL replay decisions, like that one overturning a TD, remind me of the tag play at second base when a base stealer comes off the bag for a split second and the fielder keeps the glove on him just in case, and he’s called out after review. That’s not making game better IMO.
— David O'Brien (@DOBrienATL) January 22, 2023
This should have been a touchdown. @Bengals what a catch
— Jason Gross (@JasonMGro) January 22, 2023
No amount of the booth explaining that that's not a catch will convince me. It was 100% secured while feet were in bounds twice. I don't think it's incomplete by any interpretation of the rule.
— Jake Liscow (@JakeLiscow) January 22, 2023
What adds to the frustration is that the catch rules are often ammended during the offseason, with the apparent goal of making them easier. But repeatedly, issues like this come up.
