Saints have scoop-and-score TD reversed in OT loss to Lions. What rule says

For a moment, it appeared that the New Orleans Saints scored a touchdown off of a fumble recovery in their Week 1 game against the Detroit Lions. Then replay review took it away.

The Lions were the beneficiaries of a controversial officiating call when an apparent strip sack of Jared Goff was overturned to an incomplete pass.

Saints defensive end Chase Young got past his man at the line of scrimmage and hit the Lions' quarterback as he wound up to throw. Safety Jonas Sanker scooped up the apparent fumble and took it to the house.

But after further review, officials ruled that Goff had started his forward throwing motion. Despite the backwards trajectory of the ball, the play was ultimately ruled an incomplete pass.

The NFL rulebook has very specific wording for what constitutes a forward pass – or a forward pass attempt.

Among its phrasing is this part from Section 21, Article 3, Item 1:

"If contact by an opponent materially affects a passer after the passer begins his throwing motion, it is a forward pass if he passes the ball, regardless of where the ball strikes the ground, a player, an official, or anything else."

Officials in…

Original source: https://www.usatoday.com/sports/