Many question why there was no review of the final play between the Arizona Cardinals and Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday. The Cardinals threw up a hail mary to receiver Pharoh Cooper and there was a ton of contact. Rookie cornerback Jamel Dean appeared to interfere with Cooper, but no flag was thrown and the game was over.
It appeared to be an obvious situation to review the play. The Cardinals could not challenge the play because it was in the final two minutes and the officials had already given a pass interference penalty on review, setting up the Bucs’ game-winning touchdown.
Apparently, the league sort of reviewed the play, according to Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio.
Per a league source, the play was considered for a potential replay review, but a decision was made not to officially review it, because it was determined that the play would not have been overturned, if the review had happened.
Sound confusing?
So they basically reviewed the play before deciding not to review it because the review would not have changed anything.
Perhaps nothing would have come out of a review. After all, very few calls have been changed on review.
And perhaps a review resulting in nothing might have created the same outrage. However, at minimum, the decision at least review the play when a coach can’t challenge would show they were at least trying to get the call right at the end of the game.
Listen to the latest from Cards Wire’s Jess Root on his podcast, Rise Up, See Red. Subscribe on Apple podcasts or Stitcher Radio.
