It looked as if tight end T.J. Hockenson had made an unbelievable touchdown catch on Sunday afternoon at U.S. Bank Stadium to pull the Vikings even closer as they tried to complete a comeback against the Philadelphia Eagles.
As the celebration spilled over onto the sideline, however, it was announced the play was under review. That ultimately resulted in the call on the field being overturned as it was determined that Hockenson did not complete the process of the catch. The decision was ultimately made by the NFL from its replay center in New York.
Asked about the play after the game, Hockenson was visibly upset, revealing that multiple refs came up to him afterward and told him they had it as a catch.
“I don’t understand how New York can call in and be like, ‘That’s not a catch,’” Hockenson said. “There was no evidence that it wasn’t. I think it’s ridiculous. Especially when every ref came up to me after and said, ‘We had that as a catch.’”
In a pool report, the NFL’s vice president of instant replay Mark Butterworth said it was determined that Hockenson lost control of the ball, which resulted in the call on the field being overturned.
“The ball hit the ground,” Butterworth said. “Then he regained control of the ball.”
That wasn’t how Hockenson saw it as he watched the replay on the big screen.
“There was nothing to overturn it,” Hockenson said. “I was out there. I felt it. My hands were under the ball.”
As the process was unfolding, head coach Kevin O’Connell said he was not privy to the conversations going on between the NFL from its replay center in New York and referee Bill Vinovich on the field.
“I did not get any clarity,” O’Connell said. “The main update that I got was incomplete pass.”
Meanwhile, veteran quarterback Carson Wentz lauded Hockenson for his effort, noting that he didn’t get a good look at the replay that was being shown on the big screen.
“All I know is I can throw a better ball,” Wentz said. said. “I can make it a little easier on him.”
Though it wasn’t technically the difference for the Vikings in a 28-22 loss to the Eagles, it certainly could’ve made for a different game script in the final minutes.
“It is what it is,” Hockenson said. “We’ve got to move on.”
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