What exactly counts as a catch in the NFL? No one seems to have a straight answer.
One of the ongoing storylines this NFL season has been how the league’s complicated rules governing receptions have impacted the outcome of games.
Several times this season, plays that were apparent catches to most viewers and announcers (and called that way on the field by officials) have ended up being overturned in replay. In Week 15, that cost the Steelers a victory against the Patriots (and potentially home field advantage throughout the playoffs) when Jesse James’ apparent game winner was overturned by Al Riveron, the NFL’s senior vice president of officiating.