With just over 2:00 left in tonight’s NFL game featuring the Baltimore Ravens at the Cincinnati Bengals, a back judge called offensive pass interference on Todd Heap as he hauled in a touchdown pass from back-up Kyle Boller on fouth-and-goal that would have tied the game. Replays showed that if anything, it was defensive interference and the touchdown play should have stood. Both commentators agreed it was a mistake. On the very next play, fourth-and-goal from the 11 yard line, Heap was held and holding was called immediately. The phrase “Make-up call” was used by both commenators and with the automatic first down, it looked like two wrongs were going to made right. But an interception on a tipped ball gave the ball, and the game, back to Cincinnati. It’s only week one and a bad call has already cost a team a chance to win a game, and so begins the debate: when will the league finally realize that they need utilize instant replay for judgement calls? Next year we all hope.
