The NFL acknowledged Friday that an errant whistle cost the Cleveland Browns a fumble recovery in their 45-42 overtime loss to the Oakland Raiders last Sunday.
The play, one of several controversial calls in the game, occurred with 6 minutes, 39 seconds remaining in regulation. Raiders quarterback Derek Carr lost control of the ball after Browns pass rushers Myles Garrett and Genard Avery hit him at the Oakland 38-yard line. Garrett recovered and began a return toward the end zone.
But referee Walt Anderson stepped in, ruling that a whistle had blown before the fumble because Carr's forward progress stopped.