Rules: Breaking Down the Final Play – Pats Pulpit

Nice work from Rich Hill breaking down the rulebook. To be honest I was kind of surprised there was any controversy. The Pats didn’t do enough to win the game, and any penalty on that last play would’ve been everything I hate about refs being over-involved in a result. 

Everyone who watches the Pats should’ve known they were going down the seam to Gronk on the last play and it was well-covered. I don’t want to watch an NFL where offenses can just throw it up and get a call that will decide a game.

A non-call wasn’t why the Pats lost, they lost because they couldn’t get off the field on third down. If they went an atrocious 50% on third down they might’ve won by 10-plus points. Instead the Panthers were 8-for-11 and Tom Brady had just 7 possessions all game.