Here’s why Falcons didn’t get a safety on Packers fumble

The Green Bay Packers were in strong position to score their first points of the 2017 NFC Championship game when Aaron Ripkowski took a 1st-and-10 carry deep into the Atlanta Falcons red zone. Even after the burly fullback fumbled, it looked like Green Bay could still walk away with two points when Jalen Collins rolled backward into the end zone after recovering Ripkowski’s fumble at the 1-yard line.

Instead, the Falcons escaped with a touchback to keep the explosive Packers offense scoreless through 1.5 quarters in the Georgia Dome.

Collins’ recovery raised eyebrows after he was ruled down in the end zone. Though he had secured the ball deep in his own territory before behind touched by the Packers in the end zone, officials correctly ruled the play did not constitute a safety.

Here’s the official rule, from NFL.com.

But while the play should not have been a safety, it sparked a debate over whether it should have been a touchback. ESPN refereeing insider Jim Daopoulos argued the ball should have been placed deep in Falcons’ territory.

Dean Blandino, NFL Senior Vice President of Officiating, disagreed.