The NFL’s regulations about what constitutes a catch remain a complete muddle, and they once again surfaced during the Super Bowl. The NFL still can’t be consistent with its catch rulings.
A deep pass to DeVonta Smith in the second half was ruled incomplete because he lost control of the ball as he made contact with the ground, preventing the Eagles from extending their advantage before the Chiefs got the kickoff in the third quarter.
Hurtful tweet from Jalen to Devonta Smith: s9E0z6q01H
— Shannonnn sharpes Burner (PARODY Account) (@shannonsharpeee) February 13, 2023
The show itself isn’t really the problem here. To be honest, after careful consideration and following the letter of the law, the right decision was made. The NFL rulebook defines a catch under its more general principles on possession, although it says this more directly:
It is a catch, or an interception, if, in the process of attempting to possess the ball, a player secures control of the ball prior to it touching the ground, and that control is maintained during and after the ball has touched the ground.
In the Smith grab, he held it on his helmet, but when he struck the ground, the ball shifted just enough to make sure possession wasn’t assured. An argument can be made that the review wasn’t conclusive enough to support overturning the call. Because officials on the field initially judged it a catch before changing their minds.
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The fact that catch calls are so subjective is the bigger issue. If you’ve seen 100 NFL games this season, you’ve probably seen catches like Smith’s. And many others that would be considered considerably worse in the past.
The Eagles eventually opted for a field goal after their drive stalled. But there’s a good probability that this call cost them a score.
