National Football League
Pereira: Why overturned calls are down this season
National Football League

Pereira: Why overturned calls are down this season

Published Dec. 21, 2014 5:24 p.m. ET

With the NFL's new command center in New York, the league office is clearly involved with all replay challenges and reviews. And the one thing the NFL's Vice President of Officiating, Dean Blandino, has been consistent on this season, is that unless there is indisputable evidence, he clearly wants to stick with calls made on the field.

Two really interesting plays from Sunday that clearly shows how things have changed in just one year. One happened in the Atlanta-New Orleans game and the other was in the Minnesota-Miami game which might have been ruled totally different in 2013.

Let's review:

Play 1: Atlanta at New Orleans

ADVERTISEMENT

New Orleans had the ball, first-and-10 at the Atlanta 14-yard line as the fourth quarter was just beginning. Atlanta led 20-7. Saints quarterback Drew Brees completed a 14-yard pass to Jimmy Graham. He was tackled at the goal line by Kemal Ishmael and Dezmen Southward. And as Graham struggled to try and cross the goal line, the ball came loose. Ishmael recovered the fumble and it was ruled on the field that the Falcons had recovered on the 2-yard line.

Play 2: Minnesota at Miami

Minnesota had the ball, second down and 10 at the Miami 23-yard line with 19 seconds left in the second quarter. Minnesota led 14-7. Vikings quarterback Teddy Bridgewater completed a 22-yard pass to Chase Ford very close to the sideline and as Ford was attempting to try and cross the goal line, he was ruled out of bounds at the 1-yard line.

Both plays were upheld and remained what was called on the field.

In my mind, both of these plays would have been reversed last year, with input coming just from the replay official and the referee. But now, with a consistent philosophy coming out of New York, they just didn't feel like there was conclusive evidence to reverse the calls.

I've heard Blandino say it many times: "I think it was a touchdown, but I just couldn't provide it, so I stayed with the call not the field."

On the Graham play, it looked like his forward most progress point had the ball breaking the plane. He was driven backwards and the ball came loose. The officials ruled a fumble. Although it looked like a touchdown, the call was upheld.

On the Ford play, I think his foot was in bounds and I thought it was a touchdown. But I'm sure New York was thinking there wasn't a shot right down the line so they stayed with the call.

However, a look at the latest statistics confirm the league's new philosophy. The reversal rate through 15 weeks in 2013 on all replay challenges or reviews, were reversed at 45 percent rate.  Where are we through Week 15 this year, 36.8 percent.

It's clear that the league's philosophy is to stay with the call on the field, unless it is absolutely 100 percent indisputable and these two plays prove that's the thinking. 

share


Get more from National Football League Follow your favorites to get information about games, news and more