Quote
Rampage2K-
I watched the reply six times in super slow motion and I still don’t see where there is clear and obvious evidence that the ball ever hit the ground.
Had the officials ruled that incomplete I’d have no problem with the replay confirmation because there is just no way to tell either way, BUT they ruled it a catch and just can’t see anyway they can definitely tell that ball ever hit the ground.
Excellent point rampage.
You are exactly right.
Based on your post I went back and rewatched the play in slo-mo.
Higbee lost control of the ball, no question. But it is not exactly clear that the nose of the ball ever touched the ground. Higbee was definitely fighting to keep the ball pinned between his thigh and his arm.
When I watched the replay the first time, I agreed with Michaels and Collinsworth that “it wasn’t a close call,” that it was clearly a drop. But a closer look reveals that actually they were wrong— it was extremely close whether or not the ball ever touched the ground.
Hochuli definitely could have come out and said, “Although the receiver lost control of the ball, there is no clear evidence that the ball ever touched the ground, and therefore the play stands as called. Touchdown, Los Angeles.”
Worth noting— Goff made some nice throws at the goal line, even though neither Higbee nor Watkins could come down with it.
Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 01/08/2018 05:08PM by XXXIVwin.
