The referees just straight up stole a touchdown from the Buffalo Bills at the end of the first half, overturning a called touchdown catch by Kelvin Benjamin with just two seconds remaining before halftime.
On the call for CBS, Jim Nantz thought it was a catch, even pointing out the pellets coming up from the turf. Contrarily, Tony Romo thought he may not have had control. At halftime, the entire CBS studio crew agreed it should have been a catch.
As they went to halftime, the ref was explaining the call to Bills head coach Sean McDermott who was staring straight through the ref.
Buffalo managed to kick a field goal on the next play to tie the game at 13 but Benjamin had a touchdown (and Charles Clay drops a touchdown on the play before). The Bills should be in the lead right now but it was stolen on replay.
Here are some reactions:
Benjamin's catch should be a touchdown. Clay's wasn't.
— Nick Veronica (@NickVeronica) December 24, 2017
That is a complete disgrace. The #nfl should be embarrassed.
— Kevin Connors (@kevconnorsespn) December 24, 2017
That is total BS. The #NFL is a JOKE. #Bills
— Mike Catalana (@MikeCatalana) December 24, 2017
In #BUFvsNE, when Kelvin Benjamin gains control, his left foot is off the ground. The receiver only has one foot down in bounds with control. Therefore, it is an incomplete pass. -AL
— NFL Football Operations (@NFLFootballOps) December 24, 2017
The standard has changed. There is no way the NFL can say that replay reversals are based on “clear and obvious” after that Bills TD overturned.
— Kevin Seifert (@SeifertESPN) December 24, 2017
You are kidding me!!! No way that is not a TD catch by Benjamin. That was an AWFUL decision by the officials. #Bills got shafted there.
— Vic Carucci (@viccarucci) December 24, 2017
Not in the studio but on the scoreboard here in Jerry's world, don't see how the Buffalo TD was overturned. Not clear and obvious the toe didn't drag. There is a line behind the toe when he drags it. Am I missing something?
— Mike Pereira (@MikePereira) December 24, 2017
GTFO pic.twitter.com/3oVIGwGDPn
— YardsPerPass (@YardsPerPass) December 24, 2017
regarding the Buffalo no touchdown, nothing more irritating to an official than to make a great call and then someone in a suit in an office in New York incorrectly reverses it. It is more and more obvious that there isn't a standard for staying with the call on the field.
— Mike Pereira (@MikePereira) December 24, 2017
Based on all the evidence, @DeanBlandino says the Bills' TD against the Patriots should have stood -- and that officials are being "overly technical." pic.twitter.com/wV9WYRoGmK
— FOX Sports: NFL (@NFLonFOX) December 24, 2017
Unbelievable catch by Kelvin Benjamin for the last second TD to end the half. #Bills pic.twitter.com/G3PhqGEI6g
— Bradley Gelber (@BradleyGelber) December 24, 2017