Referees explain decisions that cost Vikings 2 defensive touchdowns v. Colts

Chandon Sullivan was robbed of two TDs.

It ultimately didn't matter thanks to the comeback of all comebacks, but it certainly could have when the Vikings' Chandon Sullivan was screwed out of two defensive touchdowns against the Indianapolis Colts on Saturday.

NFL Senior Vice President of Officiating Walt Anderson and referee Tra Blake were asked the explain why the two touchdowns were called back, and in both cases the refs acted too early, first by calling forward progress on Michael Pittman before he fumbled, and then ruling Deon Jackson down by contact on another fumble.

The Pittman fumble happened at 23-0, and could have given the Vikings a vital foothold in the game. Instead the Colts punted, and soon after Kirk Cousins threw a pick-six that put the Colts up 30-0.

In the 4th quarter, Jackson fumbled with the Colts up 36-28 with just over three minutes remaining. The Vikings got the ball but not the touchdown, and Sullivan was penalized 15 yards for removing his helmet in anger at the referees' blown call.

Here's a look at both incidents, with the officials' explanation given to pool reporter Chip Scoggins after the game.

Pittman fumble

Last week the refs blew a play dead thinking Justin Jefferson stepped out of bounds (when he didn't) which cost the #Vikings a touchdown and this week the refs blew this play dead as Pittman was fighting for extra yards and fumbled.https://t.co/N2WfPUoJLH

— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) December 17, 2022

Question: "Can you take me through the Michael Pittman fumble in the second quarter and why that play was blown dead?"

Blake: "The ruling on the field was that the runner’s forward progress had been stopped. Once he’s wrapped up by the defender and his forward progress is stopped, the play is over. So, any action that happens subsequently after that is nullified because the play is dead. That was the ruling on the field."

Question: "We see plays where running backs extend plays or plays not be blown as fast. How do you determine when forward progress is? Is there a certain amount of time?"

Blake: Forward progress ends once the runner is not making progress towards his goal line any longer. Once we determine that, the play is over."

Question: "And that’s not reviewable correct?"

Blake: “That is correct.” 

Anderson: “If the ruling on the field is forward progress, then all we can look at is the position of the ball when forward progress is ruled."

Deon Jackson fumble

Make it two TDs the refs robbed out of Chandon Sullivan and the #Vikings in this game. And they badly needed even just one of them.https://t.co/5s9O1PVpbu

— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) December 17, 2022

Question: "Walt, can you take us through the Deon Jackson fumble in the fourth quarter?"

Anderson: "The original ruling on the field was that the runner that was in the pile was down by contact. Subsequently, a Minnesota player got it back. We had a look and could tell right away that the runner was still up when the ball came loose. We had a good view that it was a clear recovery by Minnesota No. 39. But the ruling on the field was the runner was down by contact. There was a subsequent loose ball and then a recovery by Minnesota and an advance. Minnesota challenged that and by the time they challenged, we had good views. We had an expedited review to announce that it was a fumble, and we had a clear recovery. But all we could do was give Minnesota the ball at the spot of the recovery.” 

Question: "Because it’s a dead ball at that point and you can’t do anything?"

Anderson: “It’s technically a dead ball when the officials rule that he’s down by contact. However, the replay rules do allow you to award the defense the ball if that recovery is clearly a fumble and if that recovery is in the immediate continuing action from when the ball comes loose. But you cannot give an advance.” 

Question: "Tra, Chandon Sullivan was penalized for taking his helmet off?"

Blake: “He was penalized for unsportsmanlike conduct for throwing his helmet on the field, yes.” 

Anderson: “By rule, because that foul was dead, he gets penalized wherever the result of the replay process determines the ball is.” Question: Wherever you determined he recovered, it’s 15 yards back.

Anderson: “Correct.”