On the game's pivotal sequence, Boger ruled that Falcons returner Adam Jennings touched a Sav Rocca punt before trying to back away from it. The ball then was plucked in stride by the Eagles' Akeem Jordan, who steamed into the end zone; alas, "muffs" cannot be advanced. On replays, though Jennings' moving right hand was blurred; it seemed very unlikely he had touched the ball. But NFL rules created a sort of perfect storm for the Falcons - with 2 minutes and 22 seconds remaining in the game, they were outside the final-2-minutes framework for automatic review. And Atlanta coach Mike Smith had used his final two timeouts during the previous sequence, trying to save clock, so he was not allowed to challenge. (And yes, you could second-guess Smith's decision to take that last timeout on fourth down, with his team set to get the ball back before the 2-minute warning regardless.)
The Eagles got the ball at the Falcons' 37. Two plays later, Westbrook danced through a desperate Atlanta blitz gamble for the touchdown that set the final score. Atlanta had driven for a touchdown, clawing within 20-14, on its previous drive; had the Falcons gotten the ball back with more than 2 minutes left, in decent field position, we might be throwing around phrases like "memorable debacle" this morning instead of phrases like "fortunate break."
"He thought he saw the ball touch the return man's hands, so that's the call that was made," Smith said afterward. He added that, "I don't think you can say there is one play in a football game that makes the difference."
"I'm not going to say I don't feel fortunate," Reid said. "But saying that means that the officials weren't right, and I'm not going to say that. I thought it was a good call."
