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My take on the #INDvsBUF fumble play late in the game.
Let’s start with how it got to review. We see just as the ball is being snapped, McDermott is calling TO. It’s close as to whether the request is before the snap, but officials will generally grant the TO when it’s close.
Let’s start with how it got to review. We see just as the ball is being snapped, McDermott is calling TO. It’s close as to whether the request is before the snap, but officials will generally grant the TO when it’s close.
No official can be seen stopping the game for any other reason. The Referee announces the charged TO. Later, he announces the play is under review. He makes no mention before review that replay stopped the game prior to the TO.
As for the review, it’s clear the left hand is the first contact made with the runner and the shot from behind the offense shows the knee was off the ground when that touch occurred. Immediately thereafter, the ball comes loose and is clearly recovered by Buffalo.
It was clear and obvious to me that it was a fumble and the runner was not down by contact.
Even though the ball comes loose after the ruling of down by contact, it’s still reviewable because the fumble occurred immediately after he got up. Note that NY also felt it was reviewable because they did, in fact, review the play.
Finally, there is no way Buffalo’s TO should have been restored. It was quite clear the TO was taken prior to any stoppage for review and the TO was not taken for the purpose of stopping the clock after the previous play.
