Key overtime ruling in Colts-Chiefs ignored the "clear and obvious" standard

The NFL centralized replay review in order to ensure that a consistent standard will apply when a second look is being taken at rulings on the field. And the consistent standard is, or should be, that the available evidence makes it “clear and obvious” that the officials got it wrong in real time.

Sometimes, that standard applies. Sometimes, it doesn’t.

When it comes to the play that gave the Colts a chance to beat the Chiefs in overtime, it didn’t.

It wasn’t clear and obvious that the officials made a mistake when ruling that Colts receiver Laquon Treadwell had caught the ball, landed on a knee/leg without being touched, and fumbled. The key question was whether Treadwell was down by contact. Which required a frame-by-frame review as to whether he had been touched by Chiefs cornerback L’Jarius Sneed after Treadwell satisfied the multi-step process of making the catch.