Steelers Dublin down in replay reversals

Early in the game in Ireland, Vikings running back Jordan Mason fumbled the ball which was scooped up by the Steelers and returned for a touchdown. After going under replay review, the Vikings kept the ball as the recovery was reversed.

When Mason is on the ground, his leg touches the boundary line. He then touches the loose ball, which puts the ball out of bounds as well. This makes it a fumble out of bounds, which means that the offense retains the ball at the fumble spot (or the out-of-bounds spot if it is behind the fumble spot).

The Steelers do not have possession of the ball when Mason touches it. A player establishes possession of a fumble in an identical manner to a pass catch: control of the ball, 2 feet down (or another body part other than the hand), and maintaining control long enough to perform an act common to the game.

If the Steelers were able to establish possession first, then the out-of-bounds Mason touching the ball (or a player) does not put the ball out of bounds.

Steelers CB James Pierre appeared to have a game-sealing interception on a pass from Vikings QB Carson Wentz. Officials on the field initially ruled the play as an interception, but there was some debate as to whether Pierre bobbled the ball prior to getting both feet down. Replay reviewed the play, and the first replays shown by the broadcast did not show a bobble. However, a late sideline replay angle showed the bobble, but the view did not show the receiver’s feet.

The HawkEye system used in replay has the capability of showing a composite of multiple replay angles synced up to show officials exactly when the bobble occurred. Officials determined Pierre did not get two feet down after he secured the ball a second time, so they changed the call on the field to incomplete. This is an example of why multiple replay cameras are critical in correctly ruling on tight plays such as this.

Image: Karl Roser/Steelers