Illegal Forward Pass Ruling in SD-PIT Game

[b10mtrk]

Disclaimer: Football official with no NFL rules experience - discussion is based on football fundamentals

1) Play continues on a completed illegal forward pass
2) While a backward pass appears to be treated as a fumble there is a distinct difference; a fumble is an involuntary loss of player possession while a backward pass is a voluntary loss of player possession - two distinct occurrences and treated differently
3) The result of the play was a TD for Pittsburgh
4) Acceptance of the penalty requires an untimed down for SD (Quarter/Half may not end with an accepted penalty)
5) Declining the penalty forces the result of the play to stand (Pgh would surely decline the IFP penalty for the TD)
6) The Point After Touhdown (PAT) is an untimed down that must be completed
7) Replay Official/Referee/Crew choked
8) Score 17/18 Pittsburgh - 10 SD
9) None of these seven officials will work play-off or super bowl games this season
10) Reliance on the rules knowledge of announcers is - at best - foolhardy Example: lateral - no such definition in any football rules manual