National Football League

Calvin Johnson's deja vu non-TD catch was at least worth a replay

Published Sep. 14, 2014 2:57 p.m. ET

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Memories … in the corner of my mind … misty water-colored … oops sorry, I got a little carried away there. 

I know fans in Detroit will be screaming deja boo, but Calvin Johnson was involved in another end zone play in the Detroit-Carolina game on FOX on Sunday that some will say was a touchdown. Again, it was ruled incomplete. 

Detroit had the ball, third-and-8 from the Carolina 31-yard line with 3:29 left in the second quarter. Carolina led, 3-0. 

Quarterback Matt Stafford attempted a 31-yard pass to Johnson, who grabbed it and looked to have made the catch as he was going to the ground, but as he rolled over the ball came out. It was ruled an incomplete pass. 

Do you remember back in 2010, at the end of the Bears-Lions game? It was a very similar play to the one that took place in Carolina, from the standpoint of one official signaled touchdown on both plays and another official signaled incomplete on both plays in question. 

The question is this: When does the ball pop out? The official who signaled touchdown didn’t see the ball pop out because it came out on the other side. 

The official who signaled incomplete saw the ball pop out. And in this day and age of completing the process of the catch — although this is right at the edge — you must maintain control of the ball when you hit the ground. This ball hit the ground when he started to roll over. 

If it had gone to replay, I do believe the call would have stayed incomplete, but the call is close. 

However, if I were the Lions, I think I would have challenged this because there is a possibility it could have been overturned, although not likely.

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