Ball don’t lie: 3 worst calls from Week 7 in the NFL

Taylor Heinicke got the Aaron Rodgers treatment

Despite the fact that he wasn’t touched on the play, Heinicke was not permitted to cross the goal-line on what should’ve been an easy touchdown against the Green Bay Packers. No, in the NFL, the runner is down the minute his knee makes contact with the ground, even if he isn’t touched.

Rule 7, Sec. 2, Article 1 was changed in 2018: “When a runner slides feet OR head first, the ball is dead the instant he touches the ground with anything other than his hands or his feet.”

As silly as this may seem, it is technically the right call per the rulebook. I am placing it here in protest. Let the man get up and continue his run! There was no one within 10 feet of Heinicke, and for this reason the play should’ve still been alive.

Heinicke, per league rules, declared himself down on the play by diving to the ground in an attempt to score. Had he fallen on accident, he would’ve been permitted to get back up and score.

https://twitter.com/KevinColePFF/status/1452347841305796613/photo/1

What makes matters even worse is that Heinicke went for the Lambeau leap right after scoring, only to have his touchdown reversed by instant replay.

You just hate to see it. Rules are rules, even if they should be erased from existence.