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NFL rules expert and former official Gene Steratore is weighing in on a controversial play from Sunday’s Packers-Broncos game. The play in question was a 16-yard touchdown pass from Green Bay quarterback Jordan Love to receiver Romeo Doubs in the third quarter.
Trailing 16-3, Green Bay was attempting to piece together a comeback in Denver. Love threw a 16-yard pass to Doubs in the end zone to cut the Broncos lead down to one score. But was the correct call made on the field? Steratore says no.
He believes that Broncos defensive back Pat Surtain II actually should have been credited with a pick on the play. The former official provided an explanation.
“The DB fulfilled the process of the catch before the WR did,” Steratore wrote on X. “After the defender possessed the ball, both of his feet and then his knee were down in-bounds prior to the WR’s. This would make this play an interception.”
IMO in #GBvsDEN, the DB fulfilled the process of the catch before the WR did. After the defender possessed the ball, both of his feet and then his knee were down in-bounds prior to the WR's.
— Gene Steratore (@GeneSteratore) October 22, 2023
This would make this play an interception.https://t.co/Jp8XuPZtdL
So, if Steratore’s interpretation is correct, it should have wiped a Green Bay touchdown off the board and Surtain should have been credited with an interception.
While the call helped the Packers close the gap, it did not impact the outcome. Denver secured a 19-17 victory at home on Sunday, improving to 2-5 on the season. Green Bay dropped to 2-4.
But that play was just one of instance of an eventful afternoon in Denver.
Broncos’ Kareem Jackson ejected for illegal hit
Broncos safety Kareem Jackson still hasn’t learned his lesson. The defensive back was flagged once against for unnecessary roughness, this time in Sunday’s game against the Packers. He was ejected for the hit he delivered on tight end Luke Musgrave.
Jackson clearly led with his helmet, a play the NFL is attempting to rid from the game. The league will have to implement a stricter punishment against the safety in order to get him to stop.
Per Pro Football Talk, Jackson has been fined four times and ejected once for plays of this nature.
Broncos S Kareem Jackson just did it again. He has been ejected. pic.twitter.com/SZ7R84ggh9
— Arye Pulli (@AryePulli) October 22, 2023
In Week 2, Jackson launched himself into Commanders star Logan Thomas on a touchdown catch. That hit also warranted an ejection and a fine. The safety also levied a dirty hit in the Week 1 game against the Raiders wide receiver Jakobi Meyers.
Clearly, Jackson has no plans on stopping this style of play. And if the league isn’t going to issue harsher punishment, why would he?
Will the league finally hit Jackson with a suspension?
Packers lose three key defensive players to injury
The Packers dealt with a plethora of injuries during their Week 7 matchup with the Broncos. Three defensive players left Sunday’s game and were ruled out for the remainder of the contest because of injury concerns, including Devonte Wyatt, Darnell Savage and Eric Stokes.
Wyatt exited with a knee injury and Savage suffered a calf injury. Stokes also exited with a hamstring.
All three players entered the game listed as “questionable.” So, it might have been slightly premature to put those guys out on the field in Denver.
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