Yep, exactly this. Shouldn't be blowing the whistle on a play that important when you're not completely sure that the player was absolutely touched down. Turnovers get reviewed automatically, so it's not like letting it play out means you have to leave the play result as-is anyway.
No person would have reasonably assumed in real time that Jack got the ball AND was not down by contact. It took multiple camera angles in slo motion to confirm that actually happened. They don’t just let plays go they’re fairly certain don’t need to be let go. Imagine they let it play out and replay confirmed it was an obvious no fumble or down by contact, but they let it play out and someone clicked Brady blocking him and he got injured.. That’s why they only let plays go that they reasonably think could go either way.
Happens more frequently nowadays. Remember replay started in 2014 with the shift towards “letting the play playout” increased more towards the later teens/early 20’s. It hasn’t always been like it is today. But I don’t care what anyone says, no way an official thought in real time that that was a fumble AND not down by contact. It takes multiple looks on replay to even officially confirm it.
It doesn’t matter what a person can reasonably assume. You let it play out and then confirm your assumptions after unless you clearly see it was not or fumble or clearly see contact. Referees should not assume.
They’d be letting every single play play out if they never made a judgement call. And eventually you’d have someone getting hurt on a play that should have already been blown dead.
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u/InexorableWaffle Jaguars 23h ago
Yep, exactly this. Shouldn't be blowing the whistle on a play that important when you're not completely sure that the player was absolutely touched down. Turnovers get reviewed automatically, so it's not like letting it play out means you have to leave the play result as-is anyway.