SANTA CLARA, Calif. — In a season in which the toughest question for the N.F.L. to answer — on the field, at least — was “Was that a catch?,” it was appropriate that what might be considered the biggest play of the Super Bowl on Sunday involved such a vexing and controversial query.
On their way to a 24-10 victory over the Carolina Panthers, the Denver Broncos scored the game’s first touchdown on a fumble by Carolina quarterback Cam Newton, sacked near his own goal line. But that play would not have happened if the seemingly simple question — Was that a catch?