Down 24-17 with one minute left in the fourth quarter at the Dolphins' 33-yard line, quarterback Mac Jones passed the ball to tight end Mike Gesicki on a 4th-and-3 play. Gesicki found himself short of the first down and in a last-ditch effort lateraled the ball to offensive lineman Cole Strange, who caught the ball, ran and appeared to gain the first down.
However, after an automatic booth review, the call was overturned. The Dolphins got the ball back, and the game was over.
They ruled Cole Strange short what a crazy ending.#Dolphins go 2-0, #Patriots go 0-2.pic.twitter.com/qxgNMLF1Athttps://t.co/xOjXDFTWTB
— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) September 18, 2023
NBC rules analyst Terry McAulay believed the referees made the correct call overturning the ruling on the field.
NBC rules analyst Terry McAulay spoke more about the ruling after the game.
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) September 18, 2023
"In my mind, it was clear and obvious that it was indeed short of the line to gain." #SNF https://t.co/C0fpW7VHmO pic.twitter.com/YfkppNxHR0
"When the knee hit, the ball was clearly between the 30 and the 31," said McAulay.
After the game, Strange did not have much to say about the play.
"I mean, I caught it, ran it — and I didn’t get it. So, it’s all there is to it,” said Strange.
The Patriots are now 0-2 going into a crucial Week 3 matchup against the Jets.
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