The NFL in the offseason added pass interference to the list of reviewable aspects of the game within its replay system, and the Vikings fell victim to the change Sunday against the Packers.
Minnesota, which had fallen into a 21-7 hole in its Week 2 game at Green Bay, appeared to score a touchdown just before halftime when Kirk Cousins found Stefon Diggs on a 3-yard pass. However, the replay official reviewed the play for possible pass interference, and running back Dalvin Cook was caught blocking a Packers defender downfield, a move that was deemed to be offensive pass interference.
Below is NFL senior vice president of officiating Al Riveron's explanation of the overturned touchdown.
In #MINvsGB, a flag for offensive pass interference on Minnesota #33 was put on the ground from New York, negating a touchdown. Here’s the explanation: pic.twitter.com/c2r0W8QJ7u
— NFL Officiating (@NFLOfficiating) September 15, 2019
MORE: Explaining the NFL's new pass interference replay rule
Five words in Riveron's tweet are key to the entire pass interference replay review expirament: "clear and obvious visual evidence." This is the standard for a reversal of a pass interference call or non-call.
The PI call wiped the touchdown off the board and cost the Vikings 10 yards. Minnesota then had to settle for a field goal to cut the Green Bay lead down to 11 just before halftime.
Ironically, it was Vikings coach Mike Zimmer who told Sporting News earlier this year that, when a call like pass interference gets slowed down by replay and examined by the letter of the law, "it can be very ticky tacky."
In allowing pass interference to be subjected to the NFL challenge and replay system, the NFL hopes to avoid egregious errors like the one that cost the Saints an NFC championship last season. But ever since the idea of making PI reviewable was proposed and eventually added to the NFL rule book for 2019, many (including us) have wondered whether the league's decision will blow up in its face.
Depending on how one feels about the reversal in Sunday's Vikings-Packers game, this could be an example of the rule change doing just that.
Minnesota lost to Green Bay, 21-16.