Why Jarrett Stidham's controversial fumble should have resulted in a Patriots defensive touchdown originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The New England Patriots' defense lifted the team to the verge of the Super Bowl, rolling into the AFC championship game following two terrific showcases.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementAfter stifling Justin Herbert and the Los Angeles Chargers in the wild-card round, then C.J. Stroud and the Houston Texans in the divisional round, the Patriots' defense had momentum heading into Sunday's game against Jarrett Stidham and the Denver Broncos.
For a moment, the Patriots appeared to continue their defensive dominance in the first half of the AFC Championship Game, scoring a defensive touchdown on a Stidham fumble. But then, the official reconvened to rule against their initial call — and New England's touchdown was taken off the board.
Here's a look at the controversial call that turned a Patriots fumble recovery touchdown into a backward-pass during their eventual 10-7 win.
MORE:Who are the officials in the AFC championship game?
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementJarrett Stidham fumble
While Stidham had a touchdown pass in the first quarter of the AFC championship game on Sunday — his starting debut of the season — he made a massive mistake toward the end of the second quarter.
On a 3rd and 4 from his own 33-yard line, Stidham couldn't find a receiver, stumbling backward as New England's pressure came in. Stidham appeared to fake a throw, then was taken to the ground.
The ball came free, and after Elijah Ponder picked it up for the Patriots, the officials blew their whistles to call the play dead despite Ponder taking it into the end zone afterward.
Did Jarrett Stidham fumble?
As things appeared, Stidham had fumbled on the play — Christian Elliss poked the ball free while Stidham had it in front of his body. But from a slower angle, it was a more complicated call. Stidham was attempting to make a sort of pass as the ball came out, and the officials got together to look at the play.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementStidham was also initially called for intentional grounding. But after a review, officials determined that he was attempting a backward pass, making the live ball a fumble. The Patriots got the ball at the 12-yard line instead of a defensive touchdown.
The officials reversed their own call on the backward pass, as neither team challenged on the initial call.
Postgame, Stidham said he "can't put the team in a bad situation like that" and he thought he had "thrown it forwards."
MORE:How much money do NFL referees make?
Why Patriots were not awarded defensive touchdown
Because the officials had blown the play dead with whistles after the Patriots recovered the fumble, Eliss' following run into the end zone was not counted. The review of the play resulted in it being considered a backwards pass and fumble recovered by the defense, but New England got the ball on the 12-yard line instead of a score.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementHad the officials not blown the play dead too far in advance, the Patriots would've scored.
It wound up not affecting the Patriots too much anyway though, as Maye took a designed run into the end zone just moments later.
AdvertisementAdvertisement
