Controversial Browns fumble shouldn’t have counted, replay shows (Video)
By Josh Hill
The Browns fumble out of the endzone is even more frustrating than we initially thought.
What’re the NFL Playoffs without a little controversy?
On Sunday in Kansas City, officials missed perhaps the biggest call of the postseason and flipped the Browns-Chiefs game on a dime. As Cleveland was attempting to mount a comeback, one that would build serious confidence and momentum heading into halftime, Rashard Higgins fumbled the ball out of bounds into the endzone.
Momentum was halted, but the embers of rage in Cleveland burned hot.
Higgins no doubt fumbled the ball out of the endzone, which is a lame rule. But the gripe Browns fans should have with officials is what caused the fumble.
Browns fumble shouldn’t have counted, but officials missed the call
Upon replay, it was clear that Daniel Sorensen hit Higgins helmet-to-helmet. More specifically, it appears that the helmet hit is what caused the fumble that turned the Browns over.
Sorensen’s nickname is Dirty Dan, which takes on a whole new meaning after that play.
https://twitter.com/chiefs/status/1350916423267344389?s=21
Simply put, the fumble should not have counted. Sorensen should have been flagged for this hit and the Browns drive should have continued.
Maybe it wouldn’t have ended in a touchdown, but it’s a sliding doors moment tailor-made for the misery fans have become accustomed to. If the play was correctly flagged, Cleveland could have scored a touchdown before halftime that, even if the Chiefs had scored as they did in reality, it would have been a 19-10 halftime deficit.