NFL senior VP of officiating defends call to overturn New York Jets' TD vs. New England Patriots

NFL senior vice president of officiating Al Riveron stands by his controversial call to overturn the touchdown catch by New York Jets tight end Austin Seferian-Jenkins in the fourth quarter Sunday against the New England Patriots.

Riveron said Monday the replay reversal was "clear and obvious" in making the correct call for the proper enforcement of league rules.

Riveron, speaking on a conference call with reporters, said the ball was loose when Seferian-Jenkins went airborne and was hit by a defender, making it a fumble as the ball went out of bounds across the goal line and through the end zone.

"No doubt about it. It was clear and obvious," said Riveron, who makes all replay determinations from the league's New York office. "Unless it's clear and obvious to us, we will not change the ruling on the field."

The play everyone is talking about occurred with 8:24 remaining in the fourth quarter when Seferian-Jenkins appeared to score a touchdown that would have closed the Patriots' lead to 24-21 after the extra point. Because the ball was ruled to be a fumble out of bounds, the play resulted in a touchback with the Jets losing possession. The Patriots went on to win 24-17.

"Once (Seferian-Jenkins) is going to the ground, we see the ball is loose," Riveron said Monday. "Now, we know we have a fumble. By rule, he has to re-establish possession, must regain control of the football again. We see in two other instances (on the replay review) where the ball is loose, he has not regained control of the football before he lands out of bounds.

"By rule, we have a touchback. We might not agree with the rule, but that is the rule. So the rule was enforced correctly."

Riveron said the competition committee during the offseason may revisit the rule that gives the defense the ball when the offense loses it out of the end zone.

"This has been something that has been brought forth to the competition committee on numerous occasions, and I'm sure we'll talk about it again," Riveron said. "We might not agree with the rule, but that is the rule, so the rule was enforced correctly."

A number of Jets players said after the game they disagreed with the call, but Seferian-Jenkins accepted the ruling.

"I feel like I scored, but at the end of the day, that's what the ref called," Seferian-Jenkins told reporters Sunday. "I'm going with what the ref said, and I have to have better ball security. I have to make sure I make the necessary corrections so that doesn't happen again."