THE NFL is considering a major change to the rules next season involving video replay.
It comes after fans were left completely baffled by a call in Sunday’s Minnesota Vikings vs Chicago Bears game.
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Vikings wide receiver Jordan Addison caught a pass from quarterback Sam Darnold at the start of the second half.
He raced down the sidelines for a 68-yard play to set Minnesota up in the red zone.
Chicago Bears head coach Matt Eberflus challenged the play – believing Addison stepped out of bounds en route down the sidelines.
But there was a “boundary camera” angle which confirmed Addison did remain in bounds.
Eberflus’ challenge was unsuccessful and the call on the field stood.
However, Fox NFL rules analyst Mike Pereira explained on the broadcast that that camera angle couldn’t have been used anyway.
Pereira explained that not every stadium in the league had the camera angle – meaning it wasn’t allowed to be used by replay officials.
“If a coach is challenged, you cannot use the boundary cam,” he said.
“There’s not boundary cams in every stadium so there’s a question of equity.”
But according to NBC’s Mike Florio, there will be changes coming next season.
“The NFL anticipates that, by the end of the calendar year, all stadiums will have them,” Florio wrote on Pro Football Talk.
“Even when the league-owned cameras (12 per venue) are present in all stadiums, their use will not expand to coaches’ challenges and replay assist this season. Next year, they will.”
Five stadiums in the league currently do not have the camera angle.
Fans watching Sunday’s game at Soldier Field in Chicago, Illinois were confused why the NFL wouldn’t use the technology if it was available.
“Why try to get a call right when you have the means to do so?” one asked.
“Right but like… WHY aren’t they in every stadium?” another asked.
“NFL is a billion-dollar company with 10 cent excuses,” a third commented.
Fortunately for Minnesota, the call was correct and they escaped Chicago with a narrow win.
The Vikings improved to 9-2 with the 30-27 win over their division rival.
But they were forced into overtime after a miraculous Bears comeback on an onside field recovery and game-tying field goal.
