Amani Hooker came out of nowhere to defend a pass from Josh Allen out to Stefon Diggs in the end zone so fast that it looked like a given that the play was an interception that was out of bounds.
Besides, safeties aren’t used to toe-tapping on catches, and that would have been the only way Hooker could have completed the catch on the pick. Since the play happened within two minutes of the end of the half, it was up to the officials to call for video review, meaning Mike Vrabel couldn’t challenge the pick.
But a video replay showed the play might have been closer that meets the eye. Hooker appeared to have toe-tapped with his right foot after bobbling and securing the ball as he was heading out of bounds. By the time anyone might have thought to look it over, the Bills were called for a false start after hustling to the line to try and get a play off.
I can’t be the only one that thinks Amani Hooker was robbed of an interception there pic.twitter.com/4sZd7nR8AJ
— Jackson Haskins (@JacksonHaskins1) September 20, 2022
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There is still certainly no guarantee the call would have been overturned. Hooker had bobbled the ball and in addition to getting both feet in bounds, he also needed to make sure he had secured the ball and that it didn’t continue to bobble as he hit the ground.
But the play was certainly close enough to have warranted a review, and it could have been a game-changer had the play been overturned.
Two plays after the incompletion, Allen found Diggs in the end zone for a wide-open touchdown.
Allen to Diggs like clockwork. #BillsMafia
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📱: Stream on NFL+ https://t.co/j1VWc0P4Rm pic.twitter.com/l42LW0mXNW— NFL (@NFL) September 20, 2022
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Hooker already has one pick on the year, having come in Week 1 against the Giants. He certainly would have liked to have been able to add another to his stat-line after that near pick.
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