What do Austin Seferian-Jenkins, Jesse James and Kelvin Benjamin all have in common?
Well, a few things: each had a controversial touchdown catch overturned on replay, on a Sunday, against the Patriots.
Naturally, as was the case with James in the Steelers’ loss last week and Seferian-Jenkins in the Jets' loss in October, seemingly every non-New England fan promptly fired up Twitter to air their grievances after the latest was-it-a-catch-or-not play.
Kelvin Benjamin had his touchdown catch overturned to end Sunday's first half for the Bills.
(Maddie Meyer)This time, on Christmas Eve, Benjamin appeared to put the Bills up 16-13 (before an extra-point attempt) with two seconds left in the first half after he looked to have possession of the ball with his feet in the end zone.
But the officials and the NFL’s football operations department ruled otherwise.
“When Kelvin Benjamin gains control, his left foot is off the ground,” the league’s department announced on Twitter. “The receiver only has one foot down in bounds with control. Therefore, it is an incomplete pass.”
The Bills ended up tying the game with a field goal entering halftime.
With Buffalo fighting for its first playoff berth in 18 years and the Pats playing for home-field advantage, the overtuned call ignited a firestorm of criticism.
Former head of NFL officiating Mike Pereira called the reversal “irritating.”
Sports Illustrated's Peter King said replay, which by rule requires clear evidence to overturn the call on the field, is now "out of control."
And plenty more accused the league of doing anything it can to help the Pats.