Deshaun Watson. Jeff Lange / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Browns’ huge play wiped out by questionable holding call

Originally posted on Larry Brown Sports | By Grey Papke | Last updated Sep 29, 2024 7:23 PM ET

The Cleveland Browns lost out on an 82-yard, go-ahead touchdown in the fourth quarter on Sunday because of a very questionable holding call.

With just over 10 minutes left in Sunday’s game, the Browns thought they had taken the lead when quarterback Deshaun Watson found Amari Cooper on a busted coverage for what would've been a long scoring strike. The play was called back, however, due to offensive holding at the line of scrimmage.

AMARI COOPER 80+ YARD TOUCHDOWN CALLED BACK BECAUSE OF HOLDING ON THE BROWNS OFFENSE pic.twitter.com/p8yL9ItoX9

— Arye Pulli (@AryePulli) September 29, 2024

Instant replay showed that the holding call on center Nick Harris was very weak. Harris seemingly established ideal blocking position and if there was holding, it looked to be the standard amount that typically happens on virtually every play in the NFL. Even at the end of the play, Raiders defensive lineman Christian Wilkins seemed fully capable of disengaging and getting after Watson.

This was called holding on the @Browns and brought back the Amari Cooper 82 yard touchdown…

BUT Myles Garrett can’t get a holding call to save his life!

What a joke @NFL! #CLEvsLV x #DawgPound pic.twitter.com/by0JFtmLG3
— BROWNS OR DIE (@BrownsorDie) September 29, 2024

That’s a pretty weak call to make in order to wipe out a play of that magnitude. It’s also rough on Watson, who finally looked to have made an explosive play after facing a lot of questions to start his season.

The Browns wound up punting on the possession so the call quite literally took six points off the board.

This article first appeared on Larry Brown Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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