The New York Jets appeared to have cut the New England Patriots’ lead to 24-20 late in the second half, but a crucial touchdown was changed to a turnover upon review.
Jets tight end Austin Seferian-Jenkins fought his way through a couple of defenders and into the end zone, and it appeared clear that he scored. However, officials ruled upon review that Seferian-Jenkins lost control of the ball before he broke the plane and regained possession after his body was already out of bounds.
Here’s a video of the controversial play:
Jets TD reversed to a touchback after this is ruled a fumble out of the end zone. What a weird play pic.twitter.com/6nyHgbNCq3
— Pete Blackburn (@PeteBlackburn) October 15, 2017
The call on the field was that Seferian-Jenkins scored, and former NFL official and FOX rules expert Mike Pereira did not feel there was enough evidence to overturn it.
Based on what we’ve seen, does not seem like enough evidence to change the ruling in #NEvsNYJ
— Mike Pereira (@MikePereira) October 15, 2017
NFL reporters were also baffled by the reversal.
Wow that call at the Meadowlands … Was questionable.
— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) October 15, 2017
I've seen a lot of bad calls and a lot of terrible decisions by a replay official, but that one was incomprehensible. … Again: What?!?
— Ralph Vacchiano (@RVacchianoSNY) October 15, 2017
How can someone fumble out of endzone if the ball is in his hands? The call wiping out a TD for the Jets among the most bizarre I've seen
— Jason La Canfora (@JasonLaCanfora) October 15, 2017
Since it was determined that Seferian-Jenkins fumbled out of the end zone, the Patriots were awarded a touchback. They ended up keeping their 10-point lead just when it appeared the Jets had gotten to within a field goal.
