Witten's first down that wasn't.

[EveryoneElse]

Am I the only guy that was yelling and cursing at the TV for the team to get to the line and run a freaking play?

It was so apparent that Wittin was short of the first, before a replay was ever shown.

There should have never been a challenge, and I think that blunder was worse than the botched FG attempt.

I'm not claiming to be the smartest man in the world, but being out there on the field, you have to be smart enough to recognize things like that.

Just wondering if anyone else recognized that before the challenge came in.

 

[BlueStar22]

the booth was going to review that one regardless.

 

[Race Bannon]

Tho, from most angles it looked like Witten was stopped short, I just could not believe they overturned the call. The line judge was right on the spot and I certainly did not see anything conclusive to make the overturn...while I on it, that was some hometown officiating throughout the game. Touchy holding calls on our DBs. Looks like the refs were trying to atone for their brethren's horrifying officiating from SB VL.

:bang2:

 

[2much2soon]

weird thing about that spot, the referee(line judge?) immediately put his right foot down inside the 1 after Witten made the catch, like he had no doubt where the spot should be.
Not sure what that particular ref saw because it was obvious Witten wasn't anywhere near a first down on that play.

 

[BlueStar22]

exactly, when I saw the line judge give us the first down, I thought that was a generous spot.

 

[smarta5150]

13th man.

1 False start.

1 Intentional delay of game.

I was watching the game with 4 buddies of mine and we saw some obvious holding calls... 2 that stick out in my mind were on Ferguson and James.

Both times the were grabbed and turned around... anyone else notice?

 

[Bleu Star]

the booth was going to review that one regardless.

Automatic booth review since it was under 2 minutes to go in the quarter.

 

[CowboysNumeroUno]

13th man.

1 False start.

1 Intentional delay of game.

I was watching the game with 4 buddies of mine and we saw some obvious holding calls... 2 that stick out in my mind were on Ferguson and James.

Both times the were grabbed and turned around... anyone else notice?

Yeah I saw them. One of them was soooooooo blatantly obvious I couldn't believe it wasn't called.

 

[vta]

13th man.

1 False start.

1 Intentional delay of game.

I was watching the game with 4 buddies of mine and we saw some obvious holding calls... 2 that stick out in my mind were on Ferguson and James.

Both times the were grabbed and turned around... anyone else notice?

I saw that too. Sometimes the officiating benefits you, sometimes it kills you. I saw one of the two jerked around and was waiting for the flag...

 

[thekavorka]

when they determine forward progress, is it where the ball is immediately when it's caught? or is it where the ball is after the receiver brings it in?

it seemed like Witten may have gotten the first down when his arms stretched back to catch the ball

 

[jimmy40]

13th man.

1 False start.

1 Intentional delay of game.

I was watching the game with 4 buddies of mine and we saw some obvious holding calls... 2 that stick out in my mind were on Ferguson and James.

Both times the were grabbed and turned around... anyone else notice?

I've noticed that Marco Rivera holds more than anyone I've ever seen and seems to get away with it so I can't complain about non calls on them.

 

[smarta5150]

I've noticed that Marco Rivera holds more than anyone I've ever seen and seems to get away with it so I can't complain about non calls on them.

Speaking of him... he needs to go.

 

[Bleu Star]

Speaking of him... he needs to go.

Take some more offensive linemen with him.

 

[DipChit]

I think it's hard to draw the conclusion that running a play quickly might've gotten away with one.

I would agree if it were a usual review where you have to wait for the coach to call it.. he might not necessarily have threw the flag immediately.

But when it's a booth review it comes down to how quickly they alert the ref that they are going to actually take time to review it. I dont think we know how quickly that decision was made.

 

[SuperG03]

Yeah, my guess is that the review was sent down from the booth very quickly, and I don't think there was any way we could have gotten another play off before they reviewed it.

However, with that said, I was extremely surprised as well that it was overturned. On those type of plays, you have to have conclusive video evidence, and even though most of the camera angles lead you to believe he was just a little short, you have to keep in mind that the angle the cameras show are deceiving and make it hard to judge exactly where it should be spotted. Unfortunately there is no camera directly at the 1 yard line which would have shown a perfect view, and given us a difinitive answer. The only "instrument" that was in perfect position was the Line Judge, who was right on the one, and looked to have a clear view of witten, the ball, and the field when he came in and spotted it. In my opinion, there is no way you can over turn that call based on conclusive video evidence, which is what is required for that to happen. If they called it short on the field, then reviewed it, I would say they shouldn't have conclusive evidence to change it. So either way, whatever the call was, should have stood.

SuperG

 

[DallasCowpoke]

I think that ref's call was like it was because when Witten caught the ball, his leading foot was on or over the line, but the ball was on his trailing hip, clearly short of the 1st dwn.

 

[T-New41]

when they determine forward progress, is it where the ball is immediately when it's caught? or is it where the ball is after the receiver brings it in?

it seemed like Witten may have gotten the first down when his arms stretched back to catch the ball

Thats the only point that I have as well. When he first catches the ball, his arms are stretched back, pretty close to where the spot was. That would be the furthest point the ball was at during the play.

He obviously didn't make it at any point after he pulled it back in, but I thought he made it, based on where the ball was when he initially caught it (like breaking the plane of the end zone, it doesn't matter where your feet are, as long as the ball breaks the plane)

I am not an expert in the rules, but it seems like the ball was a lot closer than most people think when he initially caught it.

Doesn't really matter, when you can't hit a chip shot, gimme field goal, fate/destiny/luck/god/whatever just doesn't want you to win.