(Video) Brain fade? Kyle Pitts almost loses the ball inches before reaching the endzone during Bucs game

Falcons’ Kyle Pitts was seen losing the ball even before reaching the endzone, yet being awarded the 49-yard touchdown score.

(Video) Brain fade? Kyle Pitts almost loses the ball inches before reaching the endzone during Bucs game

Kyle Pitts almost loses the ball inches before reaching the endzone (Via Audcay/X)

There appears to be some controversy arising from the Sunday Night Football Game between the Atlanta Falcons and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Fans are upset with the Falcons’ Kyle Pitts for losing the ball inches before the endzone, yet being awarded the touchdown score. 

The Falcons were leading at 31-17 in the fourth quarter, however tight end Pitts, who scored two touchdowns before half-time, has become subject to scrutiny for making the cardinal sin in one of the touchdown catches. It happened during the second quarter of the game when quarterback Kirk Cousins threw a 49-yard pass aimed at Pitts, which was successfully caught; and scored the second touchdown. 

YouTube video

Unfortunately, after breaking multiple tackles in the middle as he sprinted towards the endzone, Bucs’ safety Antoine Winfield Jr. caught up to him and knocked the ball from his hands before he even reached the endzone. Despite this play being evidently visible, Pitts was awarded the touchdown score as a nearly official rule that the tight end had already scored the goal line. 

FS Video

As expected, not everyone was satisfied by this ruling and thus, sent the clip for review which surprisingly favored the previous ruling. The reason for this decision could be that Fox never shows the clip angled at the goal line which means, there is a good chance that the officials didn’t view it from the angle that would have resulted in a touchback. 

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Kyle Pitts aside, Antoine Winfield Jr. frustrated by controversial no-touchback decision

Despite Winfield Jr.’s best efforts to score the goal line fumble after knocking the ball off Pitts’ hands, he was visibly upset after the officials decided not to rule touchback. Though he didn’t react intensely, fans did as they booed the decision by the NFL officials, showing thumbs-down signs. 

Antonio Winfield Jr.
Bucs’ safety Antoine Winfield Jr. (Via Fox News)

They didn’t have a down-the-line shot, so they had to make the determination really off of [the broadcast] look and you can’t really tell. It’s one of those rulings on the field that whichever way it was called was going to stand.

NFL rules analyst Mike Pereira said explaining the officials’ call

This could have been a game-changing play if only Atlanta hadn’t given the advantage point of a 49-yard touchdown. If only Winfield had knocked the ball off before Pitts hit the goal line, he would have easily been given the touchback. Losing the Week 8 game against the divisional rival will sink the Bucs to a 4-4 record which they can’t afford after setting their goal as high as the Vince Lombardi Trophy.