There was no shortage of controversy surrounding what some referred to as a “pass interference no call” in the bottom half of the 2018 NFC Championship game between the New Orleans Saints and Los Angeles Rams.
In 2019, such calls will be reviewable.
On Tuesday, NFL owners approved an expansion of the replay review system.
For one year, both offensive and defensive pass interfence will be reviewable. Coaches will also will be able to challenge plays in which they believe pass interference should have been called.
Such challenges will be initiated in the final two minutes of each half, between the replay booth and the NFL officiating office in New York.
“This is what I wanted to happen,” Saints owner Gayle Benson said, per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. “That’s why I made my statement. (The non-call in the title game) will never happen again.”
These weren’t the only changes made, though.
The 2018 changes to the kickoff rule will remain permanent, and all blindside blocks will be eliminated to promote player safety.
A proposal to give teams a choice in the timing of enforcement on a personal foul or unsportsmanlike conduct after a scoring play was also approved. Yardage can now be taken off either on the extra point or on the kickoff, whichever the team elects to do.
