QB Pass or Fumble

64. Forward Pass or Fumble

First and 10 on the A-20. A10 is contacted while in the act of passing and loses the ball, which is ruled a fumble. His hand just came forward with control of the ball before he lost it. B77 recovers the ball and returns it for a touchdown. RULING: Reviewable play, regarding whether the result is a fumble or incomplete forward pass. Overturn to incomplete pass, A 2-10 on A-20, reset clock if after the Two-Minute Timeout. (Rule 12-3-3a).

65. Forward Pass or Fumble

Second and 10 on the A-25. A10 is contacted while attempting to throw a forward pass and the ball comes loose before his hand starts forward. The ball hits the ground at the A-20 and B77 recovers and carries it across A's goal line. The referee rules incomplete pass. RULING: Reviewable play. Overturn to fumble, Team B 1-10 on A-20. If the ruling is overturned, Team B will get possession but no advance is allowed (Rule 12-3-3b).

66. Forward Pass or Fumble

First and 10 on the B-45. A10 is contacted while in the act of passing and before his hand comes forward he loses the ball. The referee rules incomplete pass. The ball goes into a pile and the umpire rules a recovery by Team B at the 50-yard line. RULING: Reviewable play, regarding whether a fumble or forward pass. B 1-10 on the 50. A play in which there is a fumble but was ruled an incomplete pass can be reviewed if there is a recovery of ball in the immediate continuing action after the fumble determined by the ruling officials on the field or through video evidence (Rule 12-3-3b).

67. Forward Pass or Fumble

First and 10 on the A-20. A10 wants to throw a forward pass to receiver A80, but after realizing A80 is covered, he attempts to stop his throwing motion, but before he begins to bring the ball back towards his body, he loses it and B77 recovers at the A-24. The referee rules fumble. RULING: Reviewable play, regarding whether the result is a fumble or incomplete forward pass. Overturn to incomplete pass, A 2-10 on A-20, reset clock if after the Two-Minute Timeout. It is a pass if the ball comes loose at any point after the hand starts forward until the passer starts to bring the ball back towards his body. (Rule 12-3-3a).

68. Forward Pass or Fumble on 4th Down

4/10 @ B-20. A10 drops back to pass at the B-25, is hit and loses possession of the ball before his hand starts forward. A22 catches the ball in mid-air at the B-22 and runs to the B-5. Referee rules forward pass. RULING: Reviewable play, regarding whether the passer's hand had started forward. Overturn to fumble, B 1/10 @ B-25, reset clock if after the Two-Minute Timeout. Overturn creates a fourth-down fumble which gives Team B the ball (Rules 12-3-3b and 12-3-3d).

69. Forward Pass or Fumble-Referee Announcement

Third and 10 at the B-20. Shotgun QB Al0 is in the pocket and under a heavy rush. A10 throws the ball at the B-35 just before defender B90 hits him from behind. Referee rules fumble, and B70 recovers at the B-25. The replay official stops the game to review for pass or fumble. The referee announces, “There is no foul for intentional grounding. The ruling on the field is a fumble, recovered by the defense.” RULING: This announcement allows Replay to create an intentional grounding foul if the ruling on the field is overturned to an incomplete pass, based on clear and obvious video evidence that the ball was not fumbled. Overturn to incomplete pass and intentional grounding penalty enforced, 4th-and-25 on the B-35.

70. QB Spike to Stop Clock

First and 10 on the B-20. With time running out in the second quarter, A10 receives the snap and immediately attempts to spike the ball. Before his hand starts forward, the ball pops out and lands at the B-23 where B77 recovers. The referee rules incomplete pass. RULING: Reviewable play. Overturn to fumble, Team B 1-10 on B-23 (Rule 12-3-3b).

Non-Reviewable Play Situation on QB Pass/Fumble

71. Forward Pass or Fumble-No Referee Announcement

Second and 8 on the A-40. As A10 is being tackled by B59 he throws the ball to the ground at the A-35 with no eligible receiver in the area. The referee rules fumble and the ball is recovered by B77 RULING: Reviewable play, regarding whether the result is a fumble or incomplete forward pass, but cannot rule on potential grounding. A 3-8 on A-40, reset clock if after the Two-Minute Timeout.