NFL -- Clock Errors Reviewable?

[APG]

Originally Posted by DadofTwins

I read recently that the NFL changed a rule about video replay being used to correct clock errors at the end of the half. Yesterday in the Baltimore-Indy game, the Colts ran a play with 9 seconds left on the clock. The pass was incomplete, but at the end of the play the clock still showed 7 seconds.

Watching at home, I timed the play from snap to whistle and came up with about 4 seconds for the play, which should have left 5 seconds (plus or minus one) on the clock. The difference turned out to be worth 4 points, as those two extra seconds gave the Colts time to run one more play before a FG try.

I don't have a dog in this hunt (watching the officials is far more entertaining than the game itself, anyway), and I'm not a football official myself (a guy can dream, I guess), but I am curious.

Is there somebody on the field whose job it is to make sure the clock operator starts and stops the clock correctly? Is the clock operator a league official, or is (s)he provided by the home team? And with the exception of the last play, is the clock ever reviewable?

Thanks.

If I remember that play correctly, the Colts called a timeout previous to that play. On the TV graphic, there were 9 seconds left. After the time out was called, they put back 2 seconds on the clock, so there were 11 seconds. They then ran one play which took four seconds which left 7 seconds left on the clock.

According to the official play-by-play, that is exactly what happened.

NFL Game Center: Baltimore Ravens at Indianapolis Colts - 2009 Divisional Playoffs

1-7-BAL 7 (:17) (Shotgun) 18-P.Manning pass short middle to 44-D.Clark to BLT 3 for 4 yards (52-R.Lewis).

Timeout #3 by IND at 00:11.

2-3-BAL 3 (:11) (Shotgun) 18-P.Manning pass incomplete short right to 87-R.Wayne [55-T.Suggs].

Timeout #3 by BLT at 00:07.

3-3-BAL 3 (:07) (Shotgun) 18-P.Manning pass short left to 87-R.Wayne for 3 yards, TOUCHDOWN.