Sunday’s Week 12 game between the Minnesota Vikings and Chicago Bears at Soldier Field in Chicago, Ill., featured an “equity” controversy over a camera angle.
The Vikings were leading the Bears 14-10 early in the third quarter and had the ball for a 1st-and-10 at their 23. Sam Darnold completed a 69-yard pass to Jordan Addison all the way to the Chicago 8-yard line.
Bears coach Matt Eberflus challenged the play, believing that Addison had stepped out of bounds almost 15 yards earlier.
A video angle backed up Eberflus’ observation, however, the officials were unable to use the camera angle as part of their review ruling. The call on the field stood, which allowed Minnesota to have the ball at the Chicago 8.
A few plays later, FOX rules expert Mike Pereira explained why the camera angle could not be used in the officials’ review.
“This is the boundary cam. And if the coach challenges, you cannot use the boundary cam. There is not boundary cams in every stadium, so there’s a question of equity whether some stadiums have it and some don’t have it,” Pereira explained.
— Vid Clip Hero (@VidClipHero) November 24, 2024
Basically, the angle can’t be used as part of a review unless it’s one that is available in all NFL stadiums, which it is not. Tennis tournaments often see a similar issue as some courts are equipped with replay technology, while other courts are not. However, those tournaments often allow the technology to be used where it exists.
This seems like an obvious issue the NFL should work to correct.
Minnesota ended up kicking a field goal on the drive to extend their lead to 17-10. They won 30-27 in overtime.
