Calvin Johnson ruled out of bounds correctly

Let’s face it, today hasn’t been the referees finest performance. Everyone is already talking about the play between the 49ers and the Packers that led to an incorrect call by the officials to replay the down leading to a San Fransisco touchdown.

Anyone watching the Detroit Lions take on the Minnesota Vikings this afternoon was undoubtedly left scratching their heads when an apparent touchdown throw from Matthew Stafford to Calvin Johnson was overturned after a review.

Apparently this call was correct and even has an unofficial name, the “Calvin Johnson Rule” named after our man Calvin. This name came into effect after a game 3 years ago that saw Johnson very obviously make a catch but not finish the act of the catch according to NFL standards in the endzone. That play was the difference in the Lions week one loss way back when.

Well, according to Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk, the refs got this one right also. He outlines it in his article, but basically he has to get both feet down and then make the football move and he only got one foot down before lunging across the goal line. I admit that the fact that he was able to make that play was impressive in his own right.

Fortunately for Lions fans, this time the rule did not end up costing them the win as they beat the Vikings by 10 points.