The New England Patriots beat the Buffalo Bills 37-16 in Week 16, but an overturned touchdown stopped the underdogs from taking a lead into halftime.
Not only did Bills fans and many NFL viewers disagree with the decision to call a Kelvin Benjamin catch incomplete, one of the officials — Mark Hittner — believed the same.
Showtime’s “Inside the NFL” (h/t John Barchard) shared interactions between Hittner and Bills quarterback Tyrod Taylor during the review, as well as Hittner responding to coach Sean McDermott after the ruling.
Sean McDermott: “How is that not a catch?!”
Ref: “I don’t know.” pic.twitter.com/ovUmXQ1B1h
— John Barchard | Monetize Philly (@JohnBarchard) December 27, 2017
“That’s a helluva throw,” Hittner told Taylor before the call was overturned. “That’s a helluva throw and catch, I thought.”
When McDermott complained about the incompletion, Hittner said “I don’t know” why the touchdown didn’t stand.
Bills owner Terry Pegula has since ripped the NFL for the call. One week after a by-rule-correct yet frustrating decision to overturn a Jesse James touchdown against the New England Patriots, this incorrect review also shaped a game.
Perhaps the Bills wouldn’t have held off New England, but we’ll never know if holding a lead and scoring on the opening possession of the second half would’ve led to a different result.