Mike Pereira Says Officials Should Have Reviewed Vikings Last Touchdown

by Joel Thorman on Oct 3, 2011 11:30 AM CDT

In the fourth quarter of Sunday's game against the Minnesota Vikings, the Kansas City Chiefs defense let Donovan McNabb hit Michael Jenkins near the left pylon for a touchdown pass, bringing the Vikings to within one score.

The Chiefs held on so this is just a postgame note and not the story of the game but it appeared on the replays that Jenkins did not get both of his feet in bounds before making the catch.

The league tweaked the replay rules entering this season so that every scoring play would be automatically subject to review. This one was absolutely close enough to warrant a closer look, yet the officials didn't take another look at it under the hood.

Chiefs coach Todd Haley couldn't challenge the play because it was a scoring down and was visibly upset with the officials after the Vikings kicked the subsequent extra point, and the play wasn't reviewed.

"I never had a clear shot from our vantage point worth looking at," Haley said, "no different than had we been where we could challenge if it had been a non-scoring play...They have all the views they need there and I'm assuming they made the right call."

But I don't think they made the call and neither does Mike Pereira, the league's former officiating czar, who now works with FOX Sports. Pereira wrote about the play and came away with two errors.

First, there should have been a review as the play was too close to confirm. Second, if they had reviewed it, they would have seen that Jenkins doesn't bring his left foot down in bounds, which means the touchdown should not have counted. (This is all Pereira's opinion, of course, as he doesn't work for the NFL anymore.)

Something similar happened in Week 2 when New Orleans Saints RB Darren Sproles was awarded a touchdown against the Chicago Bears and the play was not reviewed, despite replays showing he stepped out of bounds.

The replay booth used to page the referee saying the score was confirmed, or it needed to be reviewed. After the Sproles incident, CBS Sports' Charlie Casserly reported that the league was changing the rules to include someone on the sidelines with a walkie talkie with access to the replay booth, in case the pager system doesn't work.

Luckily, though, the Chiefs won the game and this isn't something that we'll be harping on all week, though it appears to be a fairly significant error by the officials.

(H/T JComp11)

Tweet Comment 50 comments | 1 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

Officials have made this mistake a few times

And if they are going to continue to do so, the rule should be modified so coaches are allowed to burn a challenge on a goal line play if they want to. Even if they are already supposed to be reviewing every scoring play.

by kcsno56 on Oct 3, 2011 11:34 AM CDT reply actions 1 recs

I also imagine that a coach could call a Time out and not burn the challenge right now

If they really thought the call was incorrect and it appeared they were not going to review it.

That would give them more time to look at it. I agree this isn’t the way it ‘should’ be but it would be a workaround for the rest of this season until the rules are changed again next year.

by kcsno56 on Oct 3, 2011 11:37 AM CDT up reply actions

Right. If the coach wants to use his reviews what good reason is there to stop them from doing so? Everyone there thought it should ha’ve been AT LEAST reviewed. Not only could Haley not challenge it, but he also would’ve gotten a 15 yard penalty for throwing the red flag.

"Hater" is a term used by weak-minded people in the face of legitimate criticism.

by JComp11 on Oct 3, 2011 11:38 AM CDT up reply actions 1 recs

He could take a Timeout, though...

by kcsno56 on Oct 3, 2011 11:47 AM CDT up reply actions

Yeah, but it was a close game and KC was still up by five, they could be important later on. I don’t blame him for not taking a timeout. Either way the challenge system is set up to not penalize teams to correct a referee’s mistake. Forcing the coach to take timeout, especially in a close game, is defeating the purpose of that system.

"Hater" is a term used by weak-minded people in the face of legitimate criticism.

by JComp11 on Oct 3, 2011 11:59 AM CDT up reply actions 1 recs

i dunno if you saw this on TV

But when this happened, K Lewis was LIVID, you could tell from the nose bleeds! He even grabbed his pink towel and threw it up like it was the replay flag. One of the refs had to come pick it up for him.

by xfatdannx on Oct 4, 2011 4:36 AM CDT up reply actions

Why should you have to call a TO?

That is rewarding the other team for a referee error?

The point of the rule was to save TOs and challenges for non-scoring plays without slowing up the game and the rule has been a failure thus far and nearly cost us the game yesterday.

Nicknames I have coined:

Jamaal Charles = 'Haley's Comet'
Shaun Smith = 'Big Nasty'
Kelly Gregg = 'Old Gregg'

by Nick Britt on Oct 3, 2011 12:02 PM CDT up reply actions 1 recs

This exactly!

It’s a rule. So why should teams have to suffer from the refs not following it? I don’t care if it take a couple minutes. Follow the rules and double check EVERY TD

I eat success for breakfast....with skim milk.

by ChiefRoyal on Oct 3, 2011 12:31 PM CDT via mobile up reply actions 1 recs

Didn't say he should have too

Just that it was an option.

by kcsno56 on Oct 3, 2011 1:49 PM CDT up reply actions

I'm glad this is getting some press.

They need to iron out these issues if they’re going to do it this way.

by bossmanham on Oct 3, 2011 11:35 AM CDT reply actions

Indeed.

After the continued officiating mishaps, I don’t see anyway the rules commitee allows this to stand next season.

The whole purpose of a challenge was to allow coaches the opportunity to prevent the officials from hurting a team with a bad call.

The ‘automatic review’ once again takes away a coach’s ability to keep his team from getting screwed, & allows the officials to dictate the score of a game totally unchecked.

Now that was a bad start.... Big finish ????

by Lucky777Luciano on Oct 3, 2011 4:07 PM CDT up reply actions 1 recs

That's B.S.

If they’re too stupid to understand how close that was and the necessity to review it, then the teams should be able to challenge. I wasn’t aware of this pathetic rule. I was going through the ceiling absolutely furious that it wasn’t reviewed. He clearly didn’t have two feet down. It was third down too. I don’t care if they would have gone for it on 4th either. Make them do it! If our defense would have given up a late TD and we lost, this would have hurt sooooooooo much more.

by Chiefs447 on Oct 3, 2011 11:36 AM CDT reply actions 1 recs

That's their ONLY job is to review plays...what is the problem?

"Oh I'm Sorry I Thought This Was AMERICA"

by porkchop_sandwiches on Oct 3, 2011 11:38 AM CDT reply actions 1 recs

It's really quite simple, and I think I know why the booth didn't call for a review:

You can't spell Power without Powe.

by Sudden on Oct 3, 2011 12:12 PM CDT up reply actions

Don’t need Mike to see the mistake…i posted this yesterday. It was a bad call, and worse to to figure it out in the review.

http://yfrog.com/nxokgfj first view

http://yfrog.com/nzyqmpj second foot OB

by kc571 on Oct 3, 2011 11:45 AM CDT reply actions 4 recs

Great shots, rec'd

Arrowhead Pride
SBNation.com/NFL

by Joel Thorman on Oct 3, 2011 11:47 AM CDT up reply actions

I think the reason it was not reviewed was because right before the two shots you have here, he had his hands on the ball with both feet in bounds. They were saying he has possession at that point, with both feet down. The two steps you have photos for, were steps 3 and 4. If you watch the game again, right before they kick the extra point, the head official looks like he gets word through a mic or pager that no replay was necessary. I do, however, think it should have been reviewed, especially since Haley had no say in the matter. So I think this was a breakdown from the replay assistant who should have told the refs to take a peek. Either way, it needs to get fixed because if this costs any team a game, fans and teams will not be happy with the NFL.

by JayMS3 on Oct 3, 2011 12:12 PM CDT up reply actions

Yes it is the Refs fault that they didnt review it but I don't get why Haley didn't throw his challenge flag anyway.

I know there’s a 15 yard penalty but who cares, everyones kicking it off through the endzone anyway. Hugh Jackson did this a couple of weeks ago when they werent going to review the play, he got the 15 yard penalty but they actually went and reviewed it after he threw it when the y were initially not going to. In the end it wasn’t reversed anyway and the other team kicked off from midfield but still he at least got the review he wasn’t going to get.

"Success is never ending, failure is never final."

by GenericBrand on Oct 3, 2011 11:45 AM CDT reply actions

hopefully we can start winning and get a premier officiating crew

by CHIEFFAN82 on Oct 3, 2011 11:56 AM CDT via mobile up reply actions 1 recs

not the way it works

by kcsno56 on Oct 3, 2011 11:58 AM CDT up reply actions

sure seems like it sometimes

Buffalo W (0-1) @Indianapolis W Denver W @Jets W
@Detroit W (0-2) @Oakland L @New England L Green Bay L
@San Diego L (1-2) San Diego W Pittsburgh W Oakland W
Minnesota W (2-2) Miami W @Chicago W @Denver W

by slackator on Oct 3, 2011 6:21 PM CDT up reply actions

Good point. The replays on the board were so bad and took so long to sort out I think Haley assumed that the guy was in and that the officials couldn’t have missed a call like that.

"Hater" is a term used by weak-minded people in the face of legitimate criticism.

by JComp11 on Oct 3, 2011 12:00 PM CDT up reply actions

i dunno why Haley is being passive about it now. He mentioned it in the interviews after the game and said he wanted them to look at it, he couldn’t throw his replay flag for he would receive a 15 yrd penalty, and he was OBVIOUSLY pissed on the sideline.

by xfatdannx on Oct 4, 2011 4:41 AM CDT up reply actions

Problem

He didn’t score the touchdown.

Unless it was fourth down wouldn’t Minnesota get 15 yards and an automatic first down? That would have given Minnesota four more shots at the endzone because after review they would have ruled that it was an incomplete pass.

Nicknames I have coined:

Jamaal Charles = 'Haley's Comet'
Shaun Smith = 'Big Nasty'
Kelly Gregg = 'Old Gregg'

by Nick Britt on Oct 3, 2011 12:05 PM CDT up reply actions 1 recs

Ya I guess that could possibly be the outcome

"Success is never ending, failure is never final."

by GenericBrand on Oct 3, 2011 12:13 PM CDT up reply actions

They let this slide

but they will wait until 10 minutes after a game is over to determine that an obvious interception is really an interception at the end of the Bills-Raiders game.

Men succeed when they realize that their failures are the preparation for their victories.

by KingChief on Oct 3, 2011 11:46 AM CDT reply actions 2 recs

Glad the Chiefs won

and this didn’t come back to haunt them.

The refs simply MUST abide by these rules, or they lose all validity. Terrible mistake. Especially one that is fairly obvious on any replay.

by SCKSChief on Oct 3, 2011 11:47 AM CDT reply actions 1 recs

The worst part of this is the dumb fans in the stands

I swear I was about to punch the guy behind me that would not shut up about Haley not challenging the call. I swear to god he went on for 5 minutes about it. I had to yell at him that you can’t challenge scoring plays and if you do it’s a 15 yard penalty. He still wanted to be mad at Haley. I want to move my seats so bad.

by excidium on Oct 3, 2011 11:50 AM CDT reply actions

hahahaha...

that is hilarious…
the only thing worse than an idiot is a loud idiot…

First of all, you throwin' too many big words at me, and because I don't understand them, I'm gonna take 'em as disrespect...

by SFLChief on Oct 3, 2011 11:54 AM CDT up reply actions

It is better to remain silent and be considered a fool

than open your mouth and remove all doubt.

by SCKSChief on Oct 3, 2011 11:55 AM CDT up reply actions

And I open my mouth and prove it daily for some reason

It’s like I have terrible short-term memory or something. =/

We Don't Hear The Hate

by TRSChief on Oct 3, 2011 12:13 PM CDT up reply actions 1 recs

I simply use my magic typing fingers to prove it

You can't spell Power without Powe.

by Sudden on Oct 3, 2011 12:14 PM CDT up reply actions

People are still complaining Haley should have called TO

He assumed the play was being reviewed and was wrong.

The league should be hearing about this from Pioli by now.

Nicknames I have coined:

Jamaal Charles = 'Haley's Comet'
Shaun Smith = 'Big Nasty'
Kelly Gregg = 'Old Gregg'

by Nick Britt on Oct 3, 2011 12:07 PM CDT up reply actions 1 recs

Goodell's got to keep the games close

Standing on the corner in a white Godfather hat. He drives a long black gangster Cadillac. He can steal a broads mind, man, in three or four minutes. It’s not how long you talk, brother, it’s what you put in it.

by HIV 2 Elway on Oct 3, 2011 11:55 AM CDT reply actions 2 recs

Tell that to Oakland. LOL!!! A little tin-foil in the afternoon HIV?

"In my experience, there is no such thing as luck."

"It's not always going to be pretty; and that's alright..."

by crashman6 on Oct 3, 2011 2:02 PM CDT up reply actions

Maybe take out the center before he snaps the xtra point....

while the replay is on the bigscreen and Haley is in the officials ear. Worst case scenerio, half the distance to the goal line on the xtra point attempt.

by KCfosho on Oct 3, 2011 12:23 PM CDT reply actions

Would they assess the penalty on the PAT or the ensuing kickoff, though?

We Don't Hear The Hate

by TRSChief on Oct 3, 2011 12:26 PM CDT up reply actions

On the PAT, because its before the snap

At least that’s how it works in Madden.

I sometimes do that when I’m mad for giving up a TD. Just take a LB, bring him offsides around the back of the oline, and the second they snap the ball just truckstick into the kicker. It’s fun.

You can't spell Power without Powe.

by Sudden on Oct 3, 2011 12:30 PM CDT up reply actions 1 recs

Heh, spiteful much?

But seriously, that kicks ass.

We Don't Hear The Hate

by TRSChief on Oct 3, 2011 12:38 PM CDT up reply actions 1 recs

Does anyone have a good video of this?

by Skrappy on Oct 3, 2011 12:55 PM CDT reply actions

I’ll get one later today.

by kc571 on Oct 3, 2011 1:05 PM CDT up reply actions

Why review anything?

They review stuff and still get it wrong all the time. The officiating of the Jets-Ravens game was a joke.

by 12t on Oct 3, 2011 12:59 PM CDT reply actions

Absolutely

Two misses on what was clearly running into the kicker by the Raven’s special teams. Chris Kluwe is right. The league doesn’t give two shits about kickers and punters.

by CapsLockKey on Oct 3, 2011 1:07 PM CDT up reply actions

ed reed went right into his leg…but they called the hold instead…

by kc571 on Oct 3, 2011 1:09 PM CDT up reply actions

Kluwe for President in 2012!

We Don't Hear The Hate

by TRSChief on Oct 3, 2011 1:27 PM CDT up reply actions

Favorite

Non Chief in the NFL

"You guys line up alphabetically by height."
--Bill Peterson

by Big_Chief on Oct 3, 2011 1:47 PM CDT up reply actions

This doesn't sound like a very good rule change so far.

4 weeks of play and already have 2 mistakes that could have changed the outcome of the game. So far it’s every other game with a major mistake. Eventually this will determine the winner. It’s bound to happen.

"We couldn't beat the Chiefs, but we damn near killed their horse"
John Madden 1975 Chiefs-42 Raiders-10

by Chiefs_40 on Oct 3, 2011 1:19 PM CDT reply actions 1 recs

bad call but then again the chiefs shouldntve

Gave up the pass gain on 4th and long after Tamba Hali made a crazy solo effort by getting that sack

by JC25FoMVP on Oct 3, 2011 2:04 PM CDT via mobile reply actions

Yeah, that and the two big end arounds were the plays that got my blood boiling a bit yesterday

We Don't Hear The Hate

by TRSChief on Oct 3, 2011 2:07 PM CDT up reply actions

well many knew that my problem is this

If you have a rule and it not being used the same way each time how is it the a good rule .You took the power away from the coach and gave it to the ref and they cant seem to get it right. the other thing is ;if we would have made more TD’s instead of field goals this realy would not have been that close anyway . we seem to be moving the ball better between the 20-20 but that 20 to end zone needs to improve we need are draft pick to get health soon to make us a force in that area That way we can maybe do more with the RB and TE we have. maybe we use Jackie B more in the red zone if he would pound the ball as hard as he did at the end of the viks game And if the game is going to fall on MC arm let it be with more deep passes not all that dink and dunk stuff .Bowe is a beast he to me is a WR in the boat with the best of them go deep he shakes DB and S of like flies trying to pin down a horse .And now it seems MC has noticed his other WR on the field it will make it eazy for BO. Other then that great win go chiefs lets get the wins rolling

by damdoneugker on Oct 3, 2011 4:44 PM CDT reply actions 1 recs