Controversy struck the AFC Divisional game between the Bengals and Titans when Amani Hooker intercepted Joe Burrow. Was it actually a catch?
It wouldn’t be an NFL playoff weekend without controversy.
On Saturday, the Tennessee Titans and Cincinnati Bengals were locked in a tight battle when Samaje Perine tipped a Joe Burrow pass into the air. Titans defensive back Arman Hooker made an acrobatic catch for the interception.
The controversy? Did the ball touch the ground before Hooker reeled in the catch?
Were the Bengals screwed on the Titans interception of Joe Burrow?
You be the judge:
The Titans are right back in it thanks to an Amani Hooker CRAZY interception 🔥
— NFL Football Everything (@nflfootballeve1) January 22, 2022
pic.twitter.com/owrD9uTYcn
The video isn’t exactly conclusive. Clearly, Hooker made a spectacular play but the ball did appear to touch the ground.
This Titans interception is one of those plays you love to see as a football fan, but hate to see as a referee pic.twitter.com/N3m0gyeEBy
— SB Nation (@SBNation) January 22, 2022
The part that is open to interpretation is whether or not Hooker had control of the ball despite its position relative to the ground.
The referees went to replay review and allowed the ruling on the field of an interception to stand.
It was a costly decision for the Bengals. Tennessee got the ball at the 33-yard line and within a couple of plays, Ryan Tannehill tossed a touchdown to A.J. Brown. The score allowed the Titans to tie the game at 16.