National Football League

NFL Week 14's top officiating rulings

Published Dec. 12, 2010 12:00 a.m. ET

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It took 14 weeks, but winter finally made its official appearance during Sunday's early games, including one game that was not played, one that was played in a snowstorm in Chicago and another in 40-degree rain in Washington.

After the roof collapsed in Minnesota, the Vikings and Giants were rescheduled for Monday night — but in Detroit.

And even though snow is in the forecast for Detroit, the roof is still in place at Ford Field and both teams — including the officiating crew — are scrambling to get there for the 7:20 p.m. ET kickoff of the game that FOX will televise.

While a chill settled over many Week 14 games, nothing may have been as cold as what took place in the Jets-Dolphins game. Let's get to the plays of the week.

1. Miami at New York Jets

THE SITUATION: Miami had the ball, fourth down at its 14-yard line with just over three minutes left in the third quarter. Miami led 10-3.

THE PLAY: The Dolphins punted the ball and during the action, someone on the Jets sideline intentionally tripped Miami's Nolan Carroll, who was injured on the play.

MY TAKE: The league will not look kindly on this, especially since it caused an injury. If you are fining players big amounts for football acts, they should equally fine this person an equal amount or more.

There is no place for this type of behavior in our game. The Jets are a classier organization than this, but the league needs to hold them responsible for an incredibly stupid act committed by someone they allowed in their team area on the sideline.

2. Green Bay at Detroit

THE SITUATION: Green Bay had the ball, second-and-3 from its 27-yard line. The game was scoreless.

THE PLAY: Green Bay quarterback Aaron Rogers' pass intended for Donald Driver was intercepted by Detroit's Amari Spievey and returned 43 yards to the Green Bay 38-yard-line. Three penalties were called on Detroit during the play: an illegal block, illegal contact and unnecessary roughness. The illegal block was the only penalty enforced.

MY TAKE: Strange play to have three fouls called. The illegal contact penalty was picked up by the officials because referee Gene Steratore stated the quarterback immediately rolled out of the pocket, therefore, making any contact against the receiver prior to the pass being thrown not a foul.

You can only have illegal contact with the quarterback in the pocket. The unnecessary roughness penalty was declined because it would have been enforced from the end of the play. The 10-yard penalty for the illegal block in the back was enforced because that penalty is from the spot of the foul, which put the ball farther back then where the penalty for unnecessary roughness would have left the ball.

By the way, even though Detroit fouled twice on the play, the Lions kept the ball because both fouls occurred after the interception. The term the official used is "clean hands.'' Since the Lions got the ball with clean hands, they keep it after their penalty is assessed.

3. St. Louis at New Orleans

THE SITUATION: New Orleans had the ball, third-and-goal from the St. Louis 2-yard line with just under 30 seconds left in the first quarter. The game was scoreless.

THE PLAY: New Orleans quarterback Drew Brees hit Jimmy Graham for a 2-yard touchdown, but it was nullified when the Saints' David Thomas was penalized for unsportsmanlike conduct. Referee Tony Corrente indicated that Graham was involved in an illegal substitution for reporting to the huddle and then running off the field late.

MY TAKE: This doesn't happen very often. This was an illegal substitution, which by rule, becomes unsportsmanlike conduct.

Rule 5, Section 2, Article 8E states, "an offensive player who moves onto the field inside the field numerals and leaves without participating in one play'' is illegal substitution.

In this case, the actual penalty is unsportsmanlike conduct and a 15-yard penalty. This is done to prevent deception and allow the defense to maintain their ability to match up with offensive substitutions. Thomas substituted into the huddle and then left before the ball was next snapped.

4. New England at Chicago

THE SITUATION: Chicago had the ball, first-and-10 at the Chicago 38-yard line with 10:09 left in the second quarter. The Bears trailed 14-0.

THE PLAY: Chicago quarterback Jay Cutler completed a 1-yard pass to Johnny Knox, who was stripped of the ball by New England's Devin McCourty. The ball was recovered by Gary Guyton and returned for a New England touchdown. Chicago challenged the fumble ruling. The call was upheld.

MY TAKE: Tough play under tough conditions. It's important to remember that the ruling on the field was a fumble. As Knox was being tackled, it appeared his butt landed on the shoe of McCourty.

It's very difficult to tell whether the ball was out before or after he eventually touched the ground. Since the ruling on the field was fumble, it was impossible to change and the ruling stood in replay.

Speaking of conditions, the heavy snow and poor field conditions we saw in Chicago make it difficult to see the lines and make proper judgments.

The referee is in total control in determining when to allow the ground crew to come out and clean the field markings. He is allowed to instruct them to clean the 5-yard line marks, the goal lines, end lines and sidelines.

The referee is also allowed to let the ground crew clean the lines behind the offense as long as the crew doesn’t interfere with play.

Under no circumstances is the ground crew allowed to clean a spot that would be used for a field goal or a try attempt. Players may use their hands to clear that spot, but ground crew members are not.

5. Tampa Bay at Washington

THE SITUATION: Washington had the ball, first-and-10 at its own 25-yard line with 3:30 left in the fourth quarter. The Redskins trailed 17-10.

THE PLAY: Washington quarterback Donovan McNabb attempted a short pass to Santana Moss that was ruled incomplete on the field. Washington challenged the incomplete pass ruling and the play was upheld.

MY TAKE: This is another play where the ruling on the field dictated the decision in replay. The pass was ruled incomplete and challenged by the Redskins. There really wasn't a clear view, but it looked to me like the ball rolled off the hands of Moss and touched the ground. That would make the pass incomplete.

I would say, however, that had the officials ruled this pass complete, it would not have been changed as there was indisputable visual evidence either way.

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