It’s not often you hear Bill Belichick publicly ask the NFL to change an existing rule, but that’s exactly what he did on Monday.
The Patriots coach wants all coaches to have the opportunity to challenge a play in the last two minutes of a game. Under current rules, coaches are allowed to challenge plays for most of the game, but in the last two minutes of each half (and in extra time), the replay booth is tasked with initiating all reviews.
“As long as the team has a challenge, they should have the ability to really challenge any game,” Belichick said, via ESPN.com. “I’m taped on this.”
The topic arose Monday due to a controversial play in Minnesota’s win over Buffalo. After the Vikings scored a shocking touchdown on a recovered fumble that gave them a 30-27 lead with 41 seconds left, the Bills still had time to drive and tie the game.
Although the Bills ended up getting the basket, part of the reason they were able to get there was a huge mistake by the officiating team. With 24 seconds left, Josh Allen hit Gabe Davis for a 20-yard gain that shouldn’t have counted because Davis missed it as he ran out of bounds.
The Vikings were unable to contest the game as there were less than two minutes left in the game and the replay booth never initiated a review, so the game ended up counting. After the game, the NFL admitted that the pass should have been declared incomplete.
Belichick cited this game as an example of why coaches shouldn’t lose the ability to challenge in the final minutes of a game.
“There were other examples of this, games that happened in situations where teams couldn’t contest because the rules prohibited [it]”, Belichick said. “I’m progressing, and things like that, that you can’t argue with. I’m not talking about that. I say don’t have the ability to challenge a play that could impact the outcome of the game – even calls like hold and pass interference and things like that – I don’t see why these plays can’t be reviewed [by a coach’s challenge].”
For his part, Vikings coach Kevin O’Connell tried to get an explanation for the lack of review during the game, but officials never offered one.
“It was right in front of me. I didn’t think it was a snag,” O’Connell said. “In this mode, it must be something that comes from above [in the press box with the replay official]or maybe New York [at the replay center]. We did not get any details on this. I asked.”
If someone like Belichick calls for a change, it wouldn’t be surprising to see a change given that he has one of the most respected voices in the NFL.
