Overview
- Midway through the second quarter on Sunday, Chase Young hit Jared Goff, the ball came loose and Saints safety Jonas Sanker recovered for a touchdown that was ruled on the field.
- After a booth review, officials reversed the on-field call and credited the play as an incomplete forward pass on the grounds that Goff had started a forward throwing motion before contact.
- The reversal removed six points for New Orleans and left the Lions to punt instead of surrendering a tying touchdown, changing the immediate momentum of the game.
- Fans, commentators and on-air rules analysts reacted angrily, with many questioning the logic of prioritizing a quarterback’s intent or arm motion when the ball traveled backward.
- Under NFL replay practice, the ruling rests on whether there is clear and obvious evidence that a forward pass began, a standard critics say is ambiguous and could affect how future replay reviews are decided.