NFL Replay System Proves Liable To Error With Obvious Blown Call On ‘Expedited Review’ Touchdown

The Washington Commanders beat the Las Vegas Raiders by a comfortable margin on Sunday so the NFL replay system did not have a direct impact on the final score. However, it made the wrong ruling on a Terry McLaurin touchdown that was instead ruled down at the one-yard-line.

Imagine if this happened during a one-possession game or in the playoffs?!

The NFL must learn from its mistake to ensure this kind of thing does not happen during a crucial moment of a high-stakes matchup. Trying to speed up the game is great, but at what cost?

What is “expedited review” in the NFL?

Great question. It is a hybrid system used to supplement on-field officiating.

The rulebook reads as follows:

“The Replay Official and designated members of the Officiating department may consult with on-field officials, or conduct a replay review, or advise the game officials on specific, objective aspects of a play when clear and obvious video evidence is present, and/or to address game administration issues, including, but not limited to: (a) penalty enforcement; (b) the proper down; (c) spot of a foul; (d) the game clock; (e) possession; (f) completed or intercepted pass; (g) touching of a loose ball, boundary line, goal line, or end line; (h) location of the football or a player in relation to a boundary line, the line of scrimmage, the line to gain, or the goal line; or (i) down by contact (when a player is not ruled down by contact on the field). Nothing in this Article precludes a Head Coach or Replay Official from initiating a challenge or review otherwise allowed under Rule 15, Section 1.”

There are a few things to note here.

First and foremost, it is very vague. There can be consultation with the officials or a replay review or advice provided only regarding specific aspects of the play.

Secondly, the rule says that the replay official may consult with on-field officials. Not must or shall.

That is a very important distinction. It is passive, not required. They can do it but they don’t have to do it.

Terry McLaurin scored a touchdown.

The Washington Commanders connected on a big pass over the middle early in the third quarter and McLaurin reached for the goal line. Officials actually called it a touchdown on the field.

And then the expedited review team decided to intervene.

In an effort to speed up the game, it overturned the ruling on the field. Terry McLaurin was ruled down.

Upon further review, the on-field referees got it right. His knee never hit the ground before the ball crossed the goal line for a touchdown.