Announcers Flummoxed by Penalty That Erased Browns TD in Loss to Raiders

This call came back to bite the Browns in Las Vegas.

Watson threw for 176 yards, one touchdown and one interception on 24-of-32 passing. | CBS Sports

For a moment, it appeared like the Cleveland Browns had taken a fourth-quarter lead over the Las Vegas Raiders at Allegiant Stadium.

With 11 minutes to play and Cleveland trailing by four points, Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson found receiver Amari Cooper wide open near the Raiders' logo at midfield. Cooper took it to the house from there for what appeared to be a 22–20 lead.

But wait—there were flags on the field. The officials nullified the touchdown due to an offensive holding call on Cleveland center Nick Harris.

CBS Sports analyst Ross Tucker couldn't believe the call.

"I don't like that at all. They called that a hold?" Tucker asked on the broadcast. "... Boy, I can't believe they called that a hold right there on Nick Harris. You're allowed to grab like that."

"I don't like that call at all...they called THAT A HOLD?...I cannot believe they called that a hold right there, on Nick Harris."

Ross Tucker did not agree with this penalty, which offset an 82-yard TD pass.pic.twitter.com/NBD5OZ9zYk

— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) September 29, 2024

Three plays later, Cleveland punted the football away. They had two more offensive possessions—one three-and-out and another that reached the red zone—but never scored again and dropped to 1–3 on the season in a 20–16 loss.

The Browns return to the field next week to visit the red-hot Washington Commanders at Northwest Stadium.

---