NFL Admits Wrong‑Player Call in Cowboys–Buccaneers Week 5

Overview

• A flag for illegal hands to the face that was recorded as against Buccaneers lineman Calijah Kancey on Oct. 8 was later shown by league analysts to be contact by Cowboys guard Tyler Booker.
• The misflag was stepped off for five yards and awarded Dallas an automatic first down at the 18‑yard line during the second quarter.
• The NFL acknowledged the mistake in its weekly officiating video, where rules analyst Walt Anderson walked through the play and cited Competition Committee guidance to verify jersey numbers when objective evidence is available.
• Reporters noted the New York officiating command center had the chance to fix the misidentification during the game but did not intervene, which has prompted fans and media to call for clearer in‑game correction rules.
• The league left the 24–16 Buccaneers victory intact, but the admission is likely to increase pressure for formal review or correction procedures for clear, objective officiating errors.