A key play in Sunday’s game between the New Orleans Saints and the Carolina Panthers has come under scrutiny thanks to the role of replay review. According to a report from NBC Sports, the NFL has privately admitted it blew a call on replay review.
The play in question occurred late in the fourth quarter of a game that was tied 17-17. Panthers quarterback Bryce Young found receiver Tetairoa McMillan for a 12-yard gain and a first down. It was initially ruled a catch on the field.
However, the Saints challenged the ruling on the field. And the replay process reversed the call on the field.
According to NBC Sports, “per a source with knowledge of the situation, the league privately admitted to the Panthers after the game that the ruling of a catch should not have been overturned.” The catch itself likely fell into a gray zone.
Based on the NFL’s reported admission there wasn’t “clear and obvious” evidence McMillan hadn’t completed the catch, but it was close enough for viewers to have either view — catch or incomplete pass. Even the TV broadcast crew calling the game seemed split on it.
“He used the ground to complete the catch,” FOX rules analyst Mike Pereira said. “He’s going to the ground, and the ball hits the ground. Yes, he had it in control initially, but the bottom hand comes off the ball and they changed it, kept this as an incomplete pass.”
The good news? The play didn’t have a massive impact on the game, though it certainly was costly at a key juncture for the Panthers.
Young’s pass to McMillan came on second-and-10 with 2:17 left to play. Carolina would pick up the first down with an 11-yard scramble by Young on the very next play.
But the drive, potentially a game-winning one, stalled out. Carolina would punt with 1:04 remaining and New Orleans drove down the field for a game-winning field goal by Charlie Smyth, making it 20-17 Saints.