The Atlanta Falcons were on the bad end of a call in their game Sunday against the Bills, resulting in a Buffalo touchdown. It ended up being the difference in a game the Falcons lost 23-17.
Bills score on fumble recovery that should have been an incomplete pass
The Falcons were on the wrong end of a bad call Sunday.
Matt Ryan was hit by Bills defensive end Jerry Hughes, and it appeared to be a fumble that the Bills took back for a touchdown. However, the replay showed that Ryan briefly regained possession before going forward with his arm and throwing an incomplete pass.
The NFL rules state the following on forward passes, and forward movement of the hand:
When a player is in control of the ball and is attempting to pass it forward, any intentional forward movement of his hand starts a forward pass.
(a) If, after intentional forward movement of his hand, contact by an opponent materially affects the passer, causing the ball to go backward, it is a forward pass, regardless of where the ball strikes the ground, a player, an official, or anything else.
By that rule, Ryan’s play should have been ruled an incomplete pass. However, whatever the NFL viewed in the replay, they felt that didn’t meet the standard.
The play gave the Bills a 14-10 lead. It also turned out being the difference in a 6-point Falcons loss.
See More:
