In baseball, a tie goes to the runner at first base. It looked to me like at least a 50% chance that part of the football got to the first down line, so if there's a rule that gives the benefit of the doubt to the offense, then yes. On the other hand, I guess the ref spotted the ball inches short, and they have a rule not to overturn a ruling on the field without definitive evidence.
The best pictures I saw were from Allen's back, where it looked like his spinal column got right about to the first down line. It was close enough that it could depend upon whether Allen was holding the ball horizontally, which would mean one end of the ball definitely got over the line, or holding it vertically, in which case it was closer.
What's the rule? Any part of the ball or one end of the ball?
Steve, was it a first down?
Josh Allen's fourth down sneak?
In baseball, a tie goes to the runner at first base. It looked to me like at least a 50% chance that part of the football got to the first down line, so if there's a rule that gives the benefit of the doubt to the offense, then yes. On the other hand, I guess the ref spotted the ball inches short, and they have a rule not to overturn a ruling on the field without definitive evidence.
The best pictures I saw were from Allen's back, where it looked like his spinal column got right about to the first down line. It was close enough that it could depend upon whether Allen was holding the ball horizontally, which would mean one end of the ball definitely got over the line, or holding it vertically, in which case it was closer.
What's the rule? Any part of the ball or one end of the ball?
Any part of the ball.
We are getting to the point where balls could be loaded with very precise geolocators that would tell us their exact spot.
Any part of the ball, and the first down marker was inches short of the 40 yard line (so buffalo didn't even have to get all the way to the 40).