Ja’Marr Chase could have had a touchdown against the Bills in the second quarter of their game against the Buffalo Bills, but it was overturned after Chase was deemed to have bobbled the football while going to the ground. However, not everyone is happy with the call.
One of those players that were not happy with the call on social media was Steelers running back Najee Harris. He took to Twitter to share his thoughts on the call and it was clear to him that the call should have stayed on the field as a touchdown for Chase.
Horrible call give that man his td smh
— Najee Harris (@ohthatsNajee22) January 22, 2023
The play showcased Ja’Marr Chase getting more than two feet down, but that the ball bobbled a bit around as he headed to the ground. It appeared when he landed that it was possible he did not have complete and total control of the ball, meaning that he would be out of bounds.
If they're saying he didn't make a football move, which they are, you can see the ball clearly leave and re-enter Chase's control from this angle. pic.twitter.com/ZTr2p7eeaH
— Jake Liscow (@JakeLiscow) January 22, 2023
The rule states that the player must have complete control of the ball in bounds, which it appears that Chase may have had. When he goes to the ground out of bounds, that is when they call it incomplete. So, the referees must have ruled that the ball was not completely controlled in bounds by Chase.
Regardless, the rule seems to have confused many, including players on the field. Gene Steratore believed the call was correct on the field, however, as he believes that Chase never fully had control of the football while he was in bounds, thus meaning his bobble out of bounds would be substantial.
As it currently stands, however, the call did not come back to bite the Bengals against the Bills. They are nursing a comfortable lead over the Bills and appear on the cusp of advancing to the AFC Championship in back-to-back years led by Chase and Joe Burrow.