Did I miss something ?...botched backward pass..

[Ralph Damren]

In the AFC championship game, a ruled backward pass was recovered by B and advanced into A's endzone. After  the ball was awarded to B at the spot of the recovery but didn't allow the  . The only explaination I had for my Patriot fan buddies was " Someone musta' blown a whistle  ". It didn't have any effect on the outcome as the Pats quickly scored, but I was  if the NFL allows B to advance a backward pass  .

[dammitbobby]

Yes, there was a whistle. So while B got to keep the ball, they could not advance.

[TxBJ]

Further, it was initially ruled an incomplete forward pass, prompting the whistle.

[Ralph Damren]

Thanks,guys, three of the 'Patriot cheerleaders' that I was watching with were high school officials. In NFHS, any action that occurs after an inadvertent whistle doesn't count. It seems the NFL covers a COP if an assumed forward pass is incomplete only to reversed to a fumble/backward pass by replay.

[ElvisLives]

Thanks,guys, three of the 'Patriot cheerleaders' that I was watching with were high school officials. In NFHS, any action that occurs after an inadvertent whistle doesn't count. It seems the NFL covers a COP if an assumed forward pass is incomplete only to reversed to a fumble/backward pass by replay.

Ralph, yes, the award of possession at the spot of the recovery was a function of Replay. The RO was able to confirm a “clear recovery in the immediate continuing action” following the IW. When that happens, the RO will award possession to the recovering team at the spot of the recovery (but no advance). This is the same in NCAA football.

[Legacy Zebra]

The official announcement was that “after discussion”, the ruling on the field was determined to be a backward pass even though the R initially ruled it forward and signaled incomplete. I actually thought replay should have taken a better look at this. The NFL, like NCAA has a caveat that says if a passer begins a forward pass and is then contacted by a defender, the pass is forward regardless of where the ball actually goes. I don’t remember the exact details of the play to know for sure if the rule would have applied, but I think it was worth a review.

[ElvisLives]

The official announcement was that “after discussion”, the ruling on the field was determined to be a backward pass even though the R initially ruled it forward and signaled incomplete. I actually thought replay should have taken a better look at this. The NFL, like NCAA has a caveat that says if a passer begins a forward pass and is then contacted by a defender, the pass is forward regardless of where the ball actually goes. I don’t remember the exact details of the play to know for sure if the rule would have applied, but I think it was worth a review.

Legacy, from what I know of command center communications, I have no doubt that there was ‘assist’ from the command center. The replays showed the QBs arm getting hit, but not until after the ball had left his hand. In live action, I would said, “That’s a forward pass that looks like a backward pass.” But the replays are pretty conclusive it was a backward pass.
I’m not a replay expert, but I don’t think the on-field folks can rule “clear recovery in the continuing action” after an IW, and that’s what that had to be. Maybe not an official ‘review,’ but no doubt in my mind they had some assistance.

Well, after further review…
I did some checking with folks who know (post-2012) NFL procedures and NCAA procedures (different folks). Before the introduction of Replay, we (NCAA) did not have the concept of awarding possession to a team with a “clear recovery in the immediate continuing action” after an inadvertent whistle while a live ball was loose. Since this was introduced with Replay, I had the understanding - well, maybe just the impression - that only the RO could make that ruling. The on-field crew’s hands would be tied to the on-field ruling, which couldn’t be changed (at least not to the extent of awarding possession to the opposing team after a ruling of an incomplete forward pass).
The IW in the Broncos-Patriots game brought this issue to the forefront. Knowing that the NFL ‘command center’ has great influence on officiating actions on the field (in real time), I was certain that the RO, with input from the command center, assisted the on-field crew in awarding possession to NE at the spot of the recovery. But, “from what I hear,” maybe not. It appears the on-field crew may have, in fact, made the decision to award possession to NE, without that direct input from the RO or CC. Well, OK. If that specific authority hadn’t been in writing before that event, the precedent is certainly there, now.
So, I wondered about NCAA. Does the on-field crew have authority to change an on-field ruling, without the intervention of Replay? Once again, “from what I hear,” there is certainly nothing to keep the on-field crew from changing the initial on-field ruling to a (hopefully) correct ruling if positive information is provided by the crew to make the change.
One thing I do know, is that - before command centers - the Referee had ultimate authority for the game - even to the extent of overruling an RO’s decision (if necessary). That would align with the on-field crew having authority to change an on-field ruling.
Nowadays, though, I just wonder what will happen with control centers, and the Referee’s ‘ultimate’ authority.

[Ralph Damren]

The official announcement was that “after discussion”, the ruling on the field was determined to be a backward pass even though the R initially ruled it forward and signaled incomplete. I actually thought replay should have taken a better look at this. The NFL, like NCAA has a caveat that says if a passer begins a forward pass and is then contacted by a defender, the pass is forward regardless of where the ball actually goes. I don’t remember the exact details of the play to know for sure if the rule would have applied, but I think it was worth a review.

Was this the same as the famed 'tuck rule' that came front and center in the NE snowstorm many years ago ?

[dammitbobby]

Does the on-field crew have authority to change an on-field ruling, without the intervention of Replay? Once again, “from what I hear,” there is certainly nothing to keep the on-field crew from changing the initial on-field ruling to a (hopefully) correct ruling if positive information is provided by the crew to make the change.

Didn't this happen last year, (or maybe year before) with Texas and someone, where a OPI got changed to DPI, or waived off, after an injury TO or similar? I don't remember the specifics. I obviously don't have any insight as to what the command center/booth may or may not have told the crew on the field, but from what I remember that kind of fits here (assuming they weren't directly told to change it by command center.)