The NFL’s broken catch rule almost ruined an instant-classic Super Bowl

Twice in Super Bowl 52, a receiving touchdown for the Philadelphia Eagles was reviewed by officials. Twice, NBC color commentator Cris Collinsworth argued the NFL’s catch rules should overturn those calls on the field. And twice, officials disagreed and determined the touchdowns would stand as called.

In a 41-33 shootout that was the most prolific day of offense in Super Bowl history, those pair of touchdowns proved to be the difference.

And everyone watching had to be scared — or hopeful, in the case of Patriots fans — that the Eagles were about to be screwed by the NFL’s catch rule, which has cost many receivers in the past.

Let’s be clear: the Patriots were not screwed. They couldn’t be.

The Eagles made a pair of athletic plays that would be considered a catch without question in any world except the one the NFL has built. It’s a problem that hasn’t gone unnoticed by commissioner Roger Goodell who plans to lead a deconstruction and rebuild of the catch rule this offseason.

Only the Eagles could’ve got the short end of the stick by a rule that turns athletic plays into non-touchdowns.

The catch rule could’ve done that and been cast into the spotlight negatively Sunday. The NFL was fortunate that it wasn’t.

It was a great game for the running back who finished with 100 receiving yards on four receptions. No play was bigger than his catch on an absolute dime from Nick Foles in the back of the end zone in the third quarter.

Left foot down. Right foot down. Touchdown.

But a closer look raised a question about when exactly Clement gained control of the football.

While he caught the ball with his left foot down and stepped with his right, he adjusted the ball in his arms after lifting his left foot.

Officials determined after a review that Clement controlled the ball and got both feet down for the touchdown.

Facing a 33-32 deficit, Ertz made the biggest play of the game for the Eagles by catching a pass and diving into the end zone for a go-ahead touchdown with less than three minutes left in the game.

Anyone who doesn’t watch the NFL wouldn’t think twice about the play. But this is a league where this pass to Pittsburgh Steelers tight end was ruled incomplete:

This play by Dez Bryant in the playoffs was ruled incomplete too:

The difference is that Ertz wasn’t going to the ground in the process of making the catch. He caught the ball, took a few steps, and dove into the end zone on his own accord.

James and Bryant were falling to the ground as part of the process of making their respective attempts to catch passes.

Both Clement and Ertz came dangerously close to crossing the line that defines the tiny difference between a complete and incomplete catch in the NFL. It’s a telling indictment of the catch rule, though, that either play was even close to not being ruled a touchdown.

The NFL will get to work on its rules in the next few months, but the world should be grateful the catch rule as it stands ultimately didn’t affect or ruin a great Super Bowl.