How NFL Officiating explained the Titans overturned fumble recovery touchdown
Tennessee can’t get right on these kinds of calls.
INGLEWOOD — The Tennessee Titans (2-7) forced a fumble, recovered it and scored a touchdown during in a 27-17 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers (6-3). We all saw it with our own eyes.
Everyone, of course, but NFL Officiating.
NFL Officiating Overturns The Titans Fumble Recovery
The play occured with :25 left to play in the second quarter. Los Angeles quarterback Justin Herbert lined up in the shotgun on a 2nd-and-10 play from the Chargers 23-yard line. Tennessee defensive lineman Jeffery Simmons beat the man in front of him while being held and stripped Herbert of the ball.
Corner Roger McCreary recovered Herbert's fumble and returned it 20 yards for a defensive score. We all saw it.
All scoring plays are reviewed, of course, and this one went back to The Replay Official in New York. A clear-as-day fumble was ruled an incomplete pass. Tennessee's defense forced LA to punt, got the ball back with :04 to play in the half, and ran out the clock.
Coach Brian Callahan was visibly outraged when Official Craig Wrolstad informed him of New York's decision.
What should have been a 14-13 lead against a quality opponent on the road remained 13-7 Chargers as time expired in the second quarter. Titans media requested a report back from NFL Officiating regarding the review.
The pool report is attached below.
No one is saying that would have turned the tide in favor of the Titans definitively.
Tennessee is a bad football team this year with issues from top-to-bottom. They likely still get beat by the better team on the road. They do not give themselves enough margin for error like questionable calls that go against them.
The Titans did not lose the game because of just one officiating decision, it simply robbed them of the chance.
"I thought it was going to stand on the field," said Callahan. "They initially told me it was going to stand, and they took another look at it as I walked away. And then as I came back, they told me it was going to be overturned and that was all the explanation I got. I'll let you guys decide what the call should have been, but I don't want to lose any money."
Tennessee returns home to host the Minnesota Vikings (7-2) in Week 11. Watch/listen to Titans Radio's pregame coverage starting at 9am CT on 104.5 The Zone in Nashville.
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Featured Image: USA TODAY Sports.
