Pass interference, including non-calls, now reviewable.
The NFL has announced that fensive and defensive pass interference, including non-calls, will now be reviewable, after league owners passed the provision, 31-1, at the annual League Meeting in Phoenix on Tuesday night. NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo reports the Cincinnati Bengals were the lone team to vote against the rule change.
According to NFL.com, coaches can challenge those PI calls in the first 28 minutes each half, with booth reviews taking place in the final two minutes each half.
The pass interference review proposal came to the forefront following the controversial finish in the NFC Championship Game, in which Los Angeles Rams cornerback Nickell Robey-Coleman destroyed New Orleans Saints wide receiver Tommylee Lewis well before the ball arrived on a third-down play late in the fourth quarter. As we know, the Rams won the game and advanced to the Super Bowl.
After the owners approved the pass interference rule change, Saints head coach Sean Payton said (H/T ESPN):
“There was an owe-it-to-the-game responsibility. And really I mean that. I think it’s important that this isn’t going to be perfect always. We know that. The mere shape the ball tells you it’s not going to bounce the same way. But these are fouls that the analysts are able to tell us they’re the most impactful fouls. I think we got it right.”