The Atlanta Falcons scored 24 points in the first half of their divisional clash with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday. Kyle Pitts accounted for half of those points, scoring a pair of touchdowns over the opening two quarters in the sort of breakout game fans have been waiting for years to see from the talented pass-catcher.
One of those touchdowns was a near thing, though. With the Falcons down 14-7, Kirk Cousins hit Pitts across the field and everybody watched as the tight end booked it to the end zone for a 49-yard score. The one Buccaneer not watching was All-Pro safety Antoine Winfield Jr., who did everything in his power to catch up with Pitts. He eventually did and made contact with the ball as Pitts crossed the goal line. At first glance, it was an impressive display of hustle but nothing more.
Kyle Pitts 49-yard TOUCHDOWN. #NationalTightEndsDay
— NFL (@NFL) October 27, 2024
📺: #ATLvsTB on FOX
📱: https://t.co/waVpO909ge pic.twitter.com/GTk6Nm51LJ
However, replay showed Winfield was very close to knocking the ball out of Pitts's hands before he crossed the goal line, which would have resulted in a touchback for the Bucs instead of a score for the Falcons. More replays suggested Winfield had actually done so and the touchdown should have been overturned.
Antoine Winfield Jr was this close to forcing the goal line fumble
— NFL (@NFL) October 27, 2024
📺: #ATLvsTB on FOX
📱: https://t.co/waVpO909ge pic.twitter.com/TE3LgvAmCu
However, Fox Sports rules expert Mike Pereria explained that, no matter how close it looked, the play wasn't going to be overturned because there was no goal line angle for the replay officials to look at. Without that, there was no way to say for sure Pitts dropped the ball before the end zone.
NFL on Fox rules analyst Mike Pereira explains why officials didn’t overturn a Kyle Pitts TD where Antoine Winfield Jr. appeared to punched it out.
— Josh Hill (@jdavhill) October 27, 2024
Basically, there wasn’t a down the line angle, which potentially screwed the Bucs out of an incredible play. pic.twitter.com/KWpwYyUAzf
A tough sequence for Tampa Bay, but Winfield's best Ben Watson impression will not go unappreciated at the very least.
The Falcons led the Bucs, 24-17, at halftime.
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This article was originally published on www.si.com as Rules Expert Explains Why Refs Couldn't Make Ruling on Controversial Kyle Pitts TD .
