The gap in the Titans' offensive line was like a runway for Chiefs lineback Derrick Johnson, as Johnson rocked Titans quarterback Marcus Mariota during the second quarter of the Chiefs' wild-card clash with the Titans Saturday.
Curiously, the play was ruled not a fumble. It is clear from the replay that the ball was knocked out of Mariota's hands while he was still up, but the call on the field was no fumble because of forward progress.
Wow. @SuperDJ56 #ChiefsKingdom #NFLPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/0ZaiAJnstn
— NFL (@NFL) January 6, 2018
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Needless to say, some that saw the play — NFL stars and others — seemed to believe the call of non-fumble was the wrong one.
The announcers say, “his forward progress was stopped”, but he was standing still in the pocket the entire play. He was not moving forward when he got hit!
— Joe Thomas (@joethomas73) January 6, 2018
I suppose forward progress stops when you're going from standing up to the ground.
— Dan Duggan (@DDuggan21) January 6, 2018
How in the blue hell is that forward progress. That might be the worst call I've ever seen in the NFL. Absolutely atrocious.
— Patrick Allen (@RPatrickAllen) January 6, 2018
His forward progress was stopped? In what world is that not a fumble? That's just terrible officiating by Triplett.
— nick wright (@getnickwright) January 6, 2018
Did he say they ruled him down, that his forward progress was stopped? Wowsers. Terrible call. Just terrible.
— Donté Stallworth (@DonteStallworth) January 6, 2018
The Titans scored with a 49-yard field goal on the ensuing fourth down.