Deflategate started with D’Qwell Jackson interception

The NFL’s investigation into claims that the Patriots may have been using deflated balls during the AFC Championship Game began following the Colts’ lone interception of Tom Brady, according to a report.

WCVB-TV reports that suspicions first arose when Indianapolis linebacker D’Qwell Jackson intercepted a Tom Brady pass early in the second quarter of the game. Jackson noticed the ball felt deflated and mentioned something to the team’s equipment manager, who brought up the subject to Colts head coach Chuck Pagano. Pagano told the team’s GM Ryan Grigson, who called the league.

League officials called and spoke with the game’s referees about the issue during halftime, leading the referees to change the balls on the field.

WCVB cautions that referees changing balls is common and that balls can deflate for a number of reasons.

Sources told [reporter Mike Lynch] that several footballs were taken out of play during the game Sunday night, but that’s not unusual and there have been times in previous games that officials have changed footballs during play due to factors such as air temperature changed that cause the ball to over or under inflate.

The Patriots have been brushing aside accusations of tampering with the game balls. Tom Brady called the claims “ridiculous,” while Rob Gronkowski had the best response of all when he joked that his spike caused balls to deflate:

Whoops lol pic.twitter.com/uLxN7A5cpq

— Rob Gronkowski (@RobGronkowski) January 20, 2015

Ultimately it seems as if it will be difficult for the league to prove whether the balls being underinflated was due to external factors or the Patriots’ intentional actions. Maybe a thorough video review will help answer questions.