In the 4th quarter of Sunday’a Divisional Round playoff game between the Dallas Cowboys and Green Bay Packers, Dez Bryant appeared to make an acrobatic catch down the sideline over Packers corner back Sam Shields.
Originally, the play on the field was ruled a catch, but Green Bay head coach Mike McCarthy challenged the play, and after a review, replay showed that although Bryant was able to appear to possess the football and get two feet down, the NFL rule as written states that a receiver must “complete the process of a catch” by also making a football move.
When Bryant goes to the ground, the ground causes the football to pop up. Because Bryant was unable to maintain “complete control” of the football throughout the process of the catch, the call was overturned.
Since the play occurred on 4th down, the Packers eventually received the ball after the turnover and ran out the clock to win 26-21.
