One of those rare games I thought the refs helped us

[RedViper]

By far this was the most help we ever got from the refs. It made me think of a game we played a few years ago where the opposing team received zero penalties. This was the karma finally coming back around to pay the Cards what was owed. That said it didn't cause Detroit to lose. They couldn't even score a touchdown.

 

[AZ Native]

So why would it have been a touchback if he didn't pitch it back (if the ball was dead?)

I'm not sure what the rule is, but he did step into the end zone before catching and tossing the ball. Could that have been called a touchback?

 

[BullheadCardFan]

There were some missed personal foul calls that weren't called for us, like when Sims shoved Foote way after the whistle.

I noticed that also. How do they not call that?

 

[Buckybird]

I'm not sure what the rule is, but he did step into the end zone before catching and tossing the ball. Could that have been called a touchback?

Since he re-established his feet in the field of play before touching the ball, nope

 

[CardLogic]

. . .the one beef I has was on the non-roughing the passer call on Stanton then calling one on Martin that nearly gave them new life. That could have been huge.

That pissed me off also, the two plays happened only one possession apart. Ziggy Ansah was late, and clearly launched himself helmet first into Stanton's chest; whereas Martin simply gave Stafford a slight shove. The timing of the contact relative to ball release was close to the same in both cases, in my opinion. If anything, Ansah's hit was the more egregious foul, and it didn't get a flag, while Martin did.

 

[Brak]

on a punt, if the kicking team touches the ball the play is over if they are touching the field of play.
that is why players jump in the air to toss it back.

Not true. The way the rule currently reads, the player must possess the ball in the field of play. The ruling was that Bethel caught/possessed the ball, then tossed it. Looks like the right call watching the replays. Had he merely batted the ball, the return would have counted.

 

[ManinAZ]

In reference to the punt fiasco I feel the refs got it after further review. The rule is if the kicking team possesses the ball first the play is dead right there. Bethel did just that. Feet on the ground and he very briefly possessed the football. At first glance he looked as if he batted it forward but after the review you see he controls the ball ever so briefly. That is where we won the call. That bathel held the ball and pushed as opposed to batting it like a volleyball.

 

[CardLogic]

BA was all over, the punt call. He knew the rule, an rightly realized that Bethel's touch constituted possession.

BRILLIANT!!

 

[AzStevenCal]

Not true. The way the rule currently reads, the player must possess the ball in the field of play. The ruling was that Bethel caught/possessed the ball, then tossed it. Looks like the right call watching the replays. Had he merely batted the ball, the return would have counted.

Correct. It's all about possession. You can tap the ball back into the field of play but if you actually possess the ball, the play is over.

I still think the spot was a gift no matter how many times I watch the play. The call wasn't egregious but I don't think we get that 1st down if the play had started inside the final two minutes if Detroit still had a timeout to use. I couldn't tell on the Ebron spot.

Steve

 

[Dback Jon]

Correct. It's all about possession. You can tap the ball back into the field of play but if you actually possess the ball, the play is over.

I still think the spot was a gift no matter how many times I watch the play. The call wasn't egregious but I don't think we get that 1st down if the play had started inside the final two minutes if Detroit still had a timeout to use. I couldn't tell on the Ebron spot.

Steve

I watched it many times as well and I think the spot was close enough to being correct that it would not of been overturned. If you look at the position of the ball when it caught it he was over the first down marker. Had he not been driven back and had he just fell on that spot he would've been at the first down marker

 

[GuernseyCard]

BA was all over, the punt call. He knew the rule, an rightly realized that Bethel's touch constituted possession.

BRILLIANT!!

That's why there is a guy up in the booth in Arians' ear.

 

[wa52lz]

I think that was BASK at work. Cardinals now have the personnel to look at that stuff on replays, know the rule book inside and out..... and know when to challenge the call.

What I especially liked about the reversal is Jerome B. was the ref who totally jobbed us out of a win a couple of years ago. Times have changed. Win games and the calls go your way.

Yep it was a make up call from Cruz "giving himself up" in 2010!

 

[kerouac9]

I think that was BASK at work. Cardinals now have the personnel to look at that stuff on replays, know the rule book inside and out..... and know when to challenge the call.

What I especially liked about the reversal is Jerome B. was the ref who totally jobbed us out of a win a couple of years ago. Times have changed. Win games and the calls go your way.

That doesn't make any sense. The Cards have made some terrible challenge calls before yesterday. Maybe if there's more examples of the Cards making good challenges, we can support this theory.

To the OP: I thought Ebron was short, and so was Fitzgerald. Fitz gets the call because he's an All-Pro.

 

[82CardsGrad]

To the OP: I thought Ebron was short, and so was Fitzgerald. Fitz gets the call because he's an All-Pro.

Totally saw it differently - and obviously more accurately!
Ebron clearly had the first, as did Fitz.



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[AzStevenCal]

I watched it many times as well and I think the spot was close enough to being correct that it would not of been overturned. If you look at the position of the ball when it caught it he was over the first down marker. Had he not been driven back and had he just fell on that spot he would've been at the first down marker

You could be right, as I said it wasn't egregious. But I'm pretty sure if they had initially spotted it short of the first down, we would not have won the challenge.

Steve

 

[CardLogic]

That's why there is a guy up in the booth in Arians' ear.

You are right, of course. But I like my version of it better!

 

[PACardsFan]

Totally saw it differently - and obviously more accurately!
Ebron clearly had the first, as did Fitz.



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I agree with this. For the most part, we were treated fairly by the officials yesterday. I thought Stanton was roughed at least once yesterday without a flag being thrown. The zebras also missed a late hit put on Foote after he had made a tackle for a loss. That one was so blatant that it left me screaming at the TV. BA was furious over that one too.

 

[SoCal Cardfan]

I guess the Cardinals are now getting calls only the elite teams get. It's nice to be on top.

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[ajcardfan]

In reference to the punt fiasco I feel the refs got it after further review. The rule is if the kicking team possesses the ball first the play is dead right there. Bethel did just that. Feet on the ground and he very briefly possessed the football. At first glance he looked as if he batted it forward but after the review you see he controls the ball ever so briefly. That is where we won the call. That bathel held the ball and pushed as opposed to batting it like a volleyball.

Lions fans have been melting down over this call. A question I can't answer that I have seen them bring up: "So this rule means, technically, Bethel could have thrown the ball BACK into the endzone without it being a touchback?"

Clearly, I think the answer based on the call yesterday is "YES", which even I admit seems very strange. Gunners on punt coverage should now be coached to try and catch the ball and toss it into the endzone instead of batting out from now on. That way, a play like Ross' yesterday is even less possible.

 

[Dback Jon]

Lions fans have been melting down over this call. A question I can't answer that I have seen them bring up: "So this rule means, technically, Bethel could have thrown the ball BACK into the endzone without it being a touchback?"

Clearly, I think the answer based on the call yesterday is "YES", which even I admit seems very strange. Gunners on punt coverage should now be coached to try and catch the ball and toss it into the endzone instead of batting out from now on. That way, a play like Ross' yesterday is even less possible.

The key is the POSSESSION. Once a punting team player POSSESSES the ball, it is dead.

Once Bethel possessed it, it didn't matter WHAT he did with it. The play was dead.

As for your scenario to batting into the endzone, it would be a touchback, and placed on the 20.

 

[Fitz Rulz]

Once the ball is caught, the play is dead
so nothing after the catch is considered even if his momentum had taken him into the end zone

 

[ajcardfan]

The key is the POSSESSION. Once a punting team player POSSESSES the ball, it is dead.

Once Bethel possessed it, it didn't matter WHAT he did with it. The play was dead.

As for your scenario to batting into the endzone, it would be a touchback, and placed on the 20.

No, that isn't the scenario I'm talking about. It's doing exactly what he did which is catching and tossing it, but back into the endzone instead of out.

 

[ajcardfan]

Once the ball is caught, the play is dead
so nothing after the catch is considered even if his momentum had taken him into the end zone

I know that is what they have said the rule is, and I love it since it bailed us out. But, I never ever heard a coach explain it like that.

 

[Dback Jon]

No, that isn't the scenario I'm talking about. It's doing exactly what he did which is catching and tossing it, but back into the endzone instead of out.

It doesn't matter what he does with it. the play he dead once he has possession of it. No matter WHAT scenario you dream up. The play is dead.

 

[ajcardfan]

It doesn't matter what he does with it. the play he dead once he has possession of it. No matter WHAT scenario you dream up. The play is dead.

Fine with me.

Special teams coaches need to emphasize catching over batting the ball then. Now that they know the rule, we should see changed play. You don't even have to be stationary in the field.