Seahawks incomplete-pass-turned-backward-pass-recovery-for-two-points properly ruled

The Week 16 game between the Los Angeles Rams and the Seattle Seahawks featured a rare pass/fumble replay ruling that awarded the Seahawks a touchdown after the officials blew the whistle and ruled in incomplete pass.

With 6:23 left in the fourth quarter, the Seahawks scored a touchdown to make the score 30-28. The Seahawks lined up for a tying two-point conversion. Quarterback Sam Darnold threw a backward pass. The Rams batted the pass and the ball flew forward, and rolled into the end zone. Zach Charbonnet picked the ball up for the Seahawks, but the officials were blowing the whistle ruling the pass incomplete.

Forward or backward?

All two point conversion plays are subject to review, so there was no challenge needed.

The first question was to determine whether or not Darnold’s pass was forward or backward. Replay was clear that it was a backward pass. Even though the the Rams player batted the ball forward, the direction of the bat in immaterial. The initial direction of the pass is what’s to rule on. It was a backward pass.

And a backward pass is a live ball.

On all one- and two-point conversions, the 2-minute fumble rule is in effect. Basically, if a player fumbles the ball, only the fumbling player may recover and advance. Conventional wisdom would say that the Seahawks cannot advance a fumble, and therefore the score should not count. However, we have to remember that the loose ball originated as a backward pass, and it remains a backward pass and all the associated properties until it is possessed. Even if it eventually travels in a forward direction. Therefore, the fumble rule for conversion tries is not applicable, because the loose ball is a backward pass, not a fumble. (Statistically, this is treated as a fumble, but that has no bearing on the call on the field.)

What about the whistle?

When the officials (incorrectly) ruled the pass forward, they blew the whistle while the ball was rolling into the end zone. Charbonnet picked the ball up while in the end zone — which is important as the play went to replay review.

Normally this would be an inadvertent whistle, but Rule 15-2-3 allows for some continuing action.

When the on-field ruling results in a dead ball (e.g., score, down by contact, incomplete pass, etc.), and following replay review, it is determined that possession was lost before the ball should have been ruled dead, possession may be awarded to a player who clearly recovers a loose ball in the immediate continuing action. A loose ball that touches out of bounds is deemed a clear recovery by the player who last possessed the ball.

As the officials were blowing the whistle, Carbonnet picked up the ball in the endzone. The ruling was backward pass, live ball deflected into the endzone, picked up by the offense, successful two point conversion.

After the review, Referee Brad Allen made a much-anticipated announcement.

It was a crazy play, initially ruled incorrectly. But the rules and instant replay review allowed the officials to correct things and the Seahawks tied the game.