NFL receptions, like beauty, are apparently in the eyes of the beholder.
That adage once again proved true on Sunday afternoon in a controversial moment in the second half of the Denver Broncos and Green Bay Packers showdown.
With 1:52 remaining in the third quarter, Jordan Love fired a pass into the end zone where wide receiver Romeo Doubs was almost completely entangled with Broncos All-Pro cornerback Patrick Surtain, and somehow both players went to the ground with both of their hands on the football.
The play was ruled a touchdown catch for Doubs, which pulled the Packers to within 16-10, even if there was some disagreement over whether the play should have been ruled a touchdown or an interception by Surtain.
.@RomeoDoubs wrestles this one away for a TD!
?: #GBvsDEN on CBS
?: Stream on #NFLPlus https://t.co/iTs8HMaXlh pic.twitter.com/sfB0C7khnn— NFL (@NFL) October 22, 2023
"I'm going to have to disagree with the call," CBS rules analyst, and former NFL official, Gene Steratore said on the broadcast. "Look, four hands possess this football while both players are airborne. It is not a catch and finalized until you have possession with both feet down.
"If you look at this play when the four [hands] possess the football, the defensive player's feet land before the offensive player's feet land. The ball never disengages from either one. In my opinion, Surtain possessed the ball with two feet down before the receiver does. Therefore, I think it's an interception."
Nevertheless, the play was ruled a touchdown and seemed to spark the Packers' offense in the second half.
Doubs has emerged as a viable weapon for Love in the Packers' passing game, having caught 21 passes for 258 yards with four touchdowns through Green Bay's first six games of the 2023 season.
Meanwhile, even though Surtain wasn't awarded the interception, he finished with a pair of touchdowns in Sunday's contest, as the Broncos held on for a 19-17 victory, picking up their second win of the season.
