Sneakylong
The rule applied was correct against James. But the rule needs to change.
It's a stupid rule that 99% of the fans don't understand, especially as it relates to the latitude granted a runner breaking the plane into the end zone. You either have possession over the ball, be it a runner or a receiver, once you break the goal-line plane, or you do not.
That's how this rule needs to be changed to remove controversy and at the same time satisfy the fans/customers who spend a lot of money to attend games and follow pro football with cable subscriptions. Otherwise you lose a lot of fans because of this seemingly biased bullshit. What is or isn't possession? What is or isn't a catch? The receiver "not surviving the ground?" Give me a fucking break. He crossed the line, in possession of the ball, no different than a runner in that situation.
So why the difference? If a runner extends his hand over the margin of the goal-line, while the remainder of his body is on the 1-yard line.... yet a defender knocks the ball out of his possession once it crosses the goal-line - how is that deemed superior to that of a receiver who has caught the ball, retains possession of the ball, until the ground causes the lack-of-possession? The runner is given the benefit of the doubt in that situation. Why not the receiver?
There's too much bullshit written within the rules for the fans to sift through.
How many more years of this bullshit must the fans tolerate before they simply lose interest? Between the bullshit officiating and the CTE that's been proven - one would think the league would get with the fucking program here and at least make one consistent rule as it pertains to what constitutes a scoring play.
The rule as it was applied last night was correct.
That still doesn't make it accurate or consistent. And I feel overly confident that an overwhelming majority of fans agree with my take on it.
New England deserved the win, don't get me wrong. I just think that most fans think the rule needs to change. You either have control over the football once the ball breaks the plane of the goal-line or you do not.
It's not that complicated.