Analyst shares bold prediction for how NFL will respond to pass interference controversies

Debates about whether or not the NFL should make penalties such as pass interference reviewable or allow coaches to challenge such decisions arise each year. Those conversations were resurrected following a pair of controversial calls in Week 3 of the ongoing season. 

Ben Solak of ESPN offered a bold prediction regarding how NFL commissioner Roger Goodell and team owners may react to the latest pass interference controversies that generated conversations this week. 

Could NFL use replay assist for pass interference in 2027?

"A few more of those," Solak wrote about such questionable penalties, "and we're going to see the ever-expanding reach of replay assist extend into pass interference calls. So long as it's the speedy assist method, and not the prolonged review method, I'm all for it. There's nothing I respect less than receivers farming pass interference instead of playing the ball."

Late in the Sunday afternoon game between the Dallas Cowboys and the Baltimore Ravens, Cowboys wide receiver CeeDee Lamb seemed to commit an offensive pass interference foul on Ravens cornerback Nate Wiggins. While Wiggins was ultimately flagged for pass interference, the Ravens went on to win the game. 

That evening, a controversial pass interference penalty directly affected the outcome of the matchup between the Los Angeles Rams and the Denver Broncos. Following the Broncos' 30-26 win, Denver's Pat Bryant admitted that he "sold" the contact from Rams cornerback Josh Wallace to earn the DPI call. 

How NFL could make pass interference reviewable 

Multiple writers from The Athletic also touched upon this subject. National NFL writer Jeff Howe suggested that the league "should adopt soccer’s VAR system to quickly legislate these calls," while Indianapolis Colts beat writer James Boyd said that "pass interference calls should always be reviewed, the same way we review all touchdowns and turnovers."

Meanwhile, Pittsburgh Steelers beat writer Mike DeFabo and longtime NFL reporter Michael Silver shared that they think people need to "get over" the fact that calls are missed and gotten wrong across all sports every season. 

Whatever the case, it certainly sounds like conversations about possibly making pass interference reviewable could take place during league meetings held in the winter and/or the spring of 2027.