Tee Higgins opened the second half of Super Bowl LVI with a bang, beating Jalen Ramsey for a 75-yard touchdown on the opening snap of the third quarter.
A closer look, however, revealed Higgins got away with a clear penalty on the play.
As Joe Burrow’s deep ball reached Higgins, the Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver grabbed hold of Ramsey’s facemask. That contact caused the Los Angeles Rams’ All-Pro cornerback to tumble to the SoFi Stadium turf, allowing Higgins to sprint untouched into the end zone.
Former NFL referee Gene Steratore said on Twitter that Higgins should have been flagged for a facemask and/or offensive pass interference.
The touchdown gave Cincinnati its first lead of the game. One play later, Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford threw an interception, setting up a Bengals field goal that put them ahead 20-13.
If that lead holds, the no-call on Higgins will be heavily scrutinized throughout the NFL offseason.
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