Vikings’ Justin Jefferson denied touchdown in Eagles defeat as wide receiver falls on wrong side of controversial touchback call
- Thanks in part to the touchback, the Eagles managed to win the game 34-28
- Some watching the game took to social media to call out the hated rule
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Minnesota Vikings star Justin Jefferson was dangerously close to a touchdown that could have changed the outcome of their loss to the Philadelphia Eagles had it not been for a controversial touchback.
As time expired toward the end of the second quarter, Jefferson hauled in a 30-yard pass from quarterback Kirk Cousins.
But when he reached the one-yard line and extended the ball in an attempt to get it over the goal line for a touchdown, the wide receiver instead lost possession and fumbled the ball out of the side of the end zone for a touchback.
After initially being ruled out at the one-yard line, the officials changed the decision after reviewing the play and the Eagles were awarded possession. To make matters worse for Minnesota, Philadelphia was able to turn the drive into points by scoring a field goal as the halftime clock expired before winning the game 34-28 after a hard-fought contest.
Fans in the NFL have long hated the rule that calls fumbles that roll out of end zones as touchbacks, and many took to of the outcome of a close game.
Minnesota Vikings WR Justin Jefferson was on the receiving end of a controversial call against the Eagles
Jefferson fumbled a ball to the one-yard line that went out of the end zone for a touchback
Viewers of the game took to social media to once again criticize the touchback rule
“Man… touchbacks are the worst,” wrote former NFL gambler turned ESPN personality Pat McAfee.
“Always think this is a stupid rule: Why should the defense get the ball here if they decide a fumble over the pylon? If you throw the ball out of bounds anywhere on the field, the defense isn’t going to get it,” CBS47/FOX30 (Jacksonville) sports director Brent Martineau said.
The fact that Jefferson’s fumble was overturned and a touchback was called also isn’t the first time in recent years that such a call has been seen as a pivotal point in a game.
In 2017, former New York Jets Austin Seferian-Jenkins appeared to score a touchdown against the arch-rival New England Patriots in what would have been a big moment in the game.
After reviewing the play, the officials overturned the touchdown and ruled it a fumble for a touchback.
New York would lose the game in heartbreaking fashion, 24-17.