Well, this feels like a first for the NFL.
During a sluggish Philadelphia Eagles game versus the New York Giants on Sunday, football fans were treated to a very strange sequence of events. In the late stages of the third quarter, with the Eagles up 13-3 and threatening on third and goal, DeVonta Smith made an excellent catch in the end zone to keep his feet in bounds and score a touchdown.
The play was called a touchdown on the field, but like all scoring plays in the NFL, Smith’s catch went to review. After the referees looked at the play, they announced to the crowd that the catch was incomplete before seemingly going back to… review their own review.
Finally after a second review, the referees confirmed that the play was a touchdown, putting the Eagles up 20-3.
Smitty Smitty Bang Bang@DeVontaSmith_6 | #NYGvsPHI pic.twitter.com/OJWKALPkeF
— Philadelphia Eagles (@Eagles) December 26, 2021
DeVonta Smith with an amazing play to stay in bounds! #Eagles #FlyEaglesFly pic.twitter.com/zeAB1r0rMH
— Brodes Media (@BrodesMedia) December 26, 2021
Yeah that’s quite abnormal as far as the NFL goes. No explanation has been given yet as to why the referees went back to review their own review, but it’s clear there was confusion among the officiating group.
In the end, the call was the correct one related to what happened on the field — Smith got both feet in bounds and had control of the ball — but it’s also hard not to feel for Giants fans too, as usually NFL officials don’t review their own calls after making an official decision.
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