On a critical third down in the final minutes of the Super Bowl, a slanting Eagles tight end Zach Ertz caught a pass from Nick Foles’ at the Patriots 5-yard line. Ertz stepped around a tackler and lunged for the end zone. When Ertz’s hands hit the ground, the ball popped lose and flew up into the air. That’s been a problem for some receivers playing the Patriots this year, but it wasn’t for Ertz on this play.
Why Zach Ertz’ key TD catch against the Patriots’ stood, but Jesse James’ didn’t
Ertz had “become a runner.” James hadn’t.
Ertz’s catch went for a go-ahead touchdown, upheld on video review. Referee Gene Steratore ruled that Ertz had gotten possession of the ball and “become a runner” before it hit the ground and popped loose. That’s what set it apart from a critical no-touchdown call on the Steelers’ Jesse James, who played New England in Week 15:
When James made what appeared to be a game-winning touchdown catch in the last minute of that game against the Patriots, he reached for the end zone just like Ertz did. But James hadn’t done anything that resembled running, or made any of the “football moves” that indicate a player has established control of the ball.
How could he have, when he caught the ball at the 1.5-yard line and immediately reached forward? Ertz was running with the ball before he lost it. That’s why his TD counted. James, for his part, agreed:
Bad rules the NFL needs to change
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