There’s some controversy brewing in the Chiefs-Browns game.
Before the end of the first half, the Cleveland Browns were inches away from scoring a touchdown until Chiefs safety Daniel Sorensen was able to somehow cause Rashard Higgins to fumble the ball out of the end zone which was eventually ruled a touchback.
https://twitter.com/BillyM_91/status/1350915945921974277
CBS rules analyst Gene Steratore looked at the play and believes the refs missed a helmet-to-helmet penalty on the Chiefs after Sorensen led with his helmet to hit Higgins.
https://twitter.com/NotScTop10plays/status/1350917148726743040
It’s not an easy play to officiate in real time especially when you’re dealing with that football, the pylon, the goal line and a fumble. By rule, that’s illegal use of the helmet, I believe.
I've been a firm advocate of making helmet contact reviewable. It's a player safety issue and extremely difficult to officiate consistently in real time. Ruling correctly on plays involving helmet contact actually benefits from the slower speed of replay.https://t.co/0nCHDkxfF1
— Gene Steratore (@GeneSteratore) January 17, 2021
Browns fans were irate with the non-call.
Refs missed the most obvious helmet to helmet call pic.twitter.com/ImyyBxnSVI
— colvino (@samcolvin53) January 17, 2021
“There will be no helmet to helmet call because it’s the Cleveland #Browns” pic.twitter.com/VZDPTKgXKK
— BIGPLAY Dave (@BIGPLAY_Dave) January 17, 2021
https://twitter.com/JZepeda_13/status/1350918145326813185
Illegal use of the helmet. The refs just hate the Browns.🤦🏽♂️ pic.twitter.com/mW1GHgiPh1
— Albert🧃 (@A13enson) January 17, 2021
The reason Higgins lost the ball was because he was hit in the helmet…..at the very least, give ball back to offense at original line of scrimmage… or have that a play that can be reviewed. Refs should not miss helmet to helmet #browns @fox8news
— .@JohnTelich8 (@JohnTelich8) January 17, 2021