NFL World Reacts to Bengals’ Touchdown Being Overturned vs. Bills

A leaping catch from Cincinnati wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase was overturned, and observers had strong reactions.

In their AFC divisional-round matchup with the Bills Sunday, the Bengals appeared to seize a critical third-and-goal opportunity with 1:55 left in the half. Quarterback Joe Burrow hit leaping wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase in the back of the end zone, and the play was called a touchdown on the field.

NFL replay officials, however, reversed the call on the grounds that Chase did not maintain possession throughout the process of the catch. Instead, subsequently facing fourth-and-goal, Cincinnati sent on kicker Evan McPherson for a successful 28-yard field goal attempt.

Faced with another controversial catch ruling in a big game, NFL writers and fans reacted with a combination of anger, disgust and confusion.

Catch or no catch? 🤔

(via @NFL)pic.twitter.com/060kDJhJ85

— Sports Illustrated (@SInow) January 22, 2023

Some blamed catch rules for degrading the league’s product.

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In every universe where football is played, that's a TD. The NFL is just absurd. They're just dying to take dynamic plays out of football. Good for the Bills, bad for the sport

— Sal Maiorana (@salmaiorana) January 22, 2023

Some took issue specifically with the fact that enough evidence had apparently been found to overturn the call on the field.

There was no way for the official who made the touchdown call to see the ball, so it's not his fault

If the refs could say "uh, I dunno" and send it up to a sky judge to make the call, I could see that being incomplete

But clear evidence to overturn the call on the field?

— Bill Barnwell (@billbarnwell) January 22, 2023

I don't know if that was a catch or not. I do know that it wasn't obvious enough to overturn whatever the call on the field might be.

— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) January 22, 2023

Simplify the catch rules. No two rulings ever feel the same.

— Jeff Howe (@jeffphowe) January 22, 2023

Meanwhile, an old, enduringly accurate tweet from longtime MLB pitcher Brandon McCarthy made the rounds.

NFL catch rules are absurd. "Even though it looked like he caught it, he hadn't accepted the ball into his heart. Therefore, incomplete."

— Brandon McCarthy (@BMcCarthy32) November 25, 2013

Here are some other notable reactions from social media:

My problem is… you can catch it, have two feet down, control it, but if it moves as you hit the ground… no catch. You place one inch of the ball over the line, and then fumble the ball, or never advance beyond that… touchdown.

— Jacob Hester (@JacobHester18) January 22, 2023

They don’t wanna see my boy be great 🤦🏾‍♂️, that’s a catch !

— LAHGRIDDY👌🏾 (@LAHGRIDDY2x) January 22, 2023

What thorough nonsense.
That was absolutely 50/50 and called a catch on the field.
That’s everything that’s wrong with replay.
It was never intended for that level of objective minutiae. #Bengals

— Mike Greenberg (@Espngreeny) January 22, 2023

NFL has made what they deem a catch into rocket science 🤦🏾‍♂️

— Damien Woody (@damienwoody) January 22, 2023

That’s not a catch. 🏈 is moving.

— shannon sharpe (@ShannonSharpe) January 22, 2023

This is so stupid. He caught the ball. We all saw him catch the ball. This shit is exhausting.

— Kevin Van Valkenburg (@KVanValkenburg) January 22, 2023

Catch rules need to be different in the end zone.

When a player reaches the ball across the plane it's a TD, even if the ball is knocked away. It's not a fumble, it's a TD.

Chase caught the ball and possession of the ball in the end zone, that is a TD.pic.twitter.com/An3Ifrz4Ec

— Rich Ohrnberger (@ohrnberger) January 22, 2023