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Terry McAulay: Kenny Pickett Interception Was Pass Interference

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Former Steelers WR Chase Claypool

Kenny Pickett threw an interception on a pass intended for Chase Claypool, but NBC rules analyst and former NFL referee Terry McAulay said that defensive pass interference should have been called.

Pickett threw the ball up on a slot fade against single-high coverage in the direction of Claypool. But Dolphins cornerback Justin Bethel was just a step behind him. It appeared that Claypool may have hit Bethel’s knee, thus causing Claypool to hit the ground and allowing Bethel to get the interception.

McAulay broke this down and said that because Bethel was not playing the ball while Claypool was touched, it could be seen as defensive pass interference on the play.

“If the defender is playing the play, then with feet entanglement, there’s no foul,” McAulay said. “But if he’s not playing the ball, as we see here, and their feet entangle, it is a foul. Now, the question is do their feet really entangle with each other, or does the receiver just trip over his own feet? It looks to me like he does hit the knee of the defender. That would be defensive pass interference.”

The Steelers held the Dolphins to a field goal following that, but Kenny Pickett nor Claypool are happy about that outcome. Pittsburgh currently trails Miami 13-3 in the second quarter.