Disputed second-quarter call opens door for Patriots in 35-14 win over Titans

FOXBOROUGH — A key sequence midway through the second quarter in Saturday’s divisional playoff game helped turn a one-score game into a blowout, as the Patriots made the Titans pay for a costly penalty.


With 6:32 left in the first half and New England holding a 14-7 lead, Tennessee looked to be in position to potentially tie the game when the Patriots were forced to punt the ball away deep in their own territory after a three-and-out (so deep in their own territory that punter Ryan Allen was standing on his own goal line). And considering the fact that the Titans were going to get the ball to start the second half, they had to feel pretty good about their chances at that point.

But before Allen could punt the ball away, there was a whistle, and it initially appeared New England would be called for a false start. However, after the officials held a quick conference, the call was changed — instead, Tennessee’s Brynden Trawick was flagged for a neutral zone infraction.

After the game, referee Ronald Torbert explained his decision to a pool reporter.

“The line judge saw a defensive lineman jump into the neutral zone, did not see the guard across from him move,” he said. “The umpire saw the guard move and threw his flag for a false start, which is what we initially announced. When we got together and discussed it and pieced together that the defensive lineman across from the guard jumped in the neutral zone and caused the false start, that's when we changed the ruling from a false start to a neutral zone infraction.”

The Pats made the Titans pay for their mistake, as the penalty was enough for a first down. New England would go on to post a 16-play, 91-yard drive that was capped off by a 4-yard pass from Tom Brady to Chris Hogan to make it 21-7 with 1:52 left in the first half. The Titans wouldn’t get any closer the rest of the way, as the Patriots put their foot on the gas on the way to an eventual 35-14 win.

“Whenever a team makes a mistake, you have to capitalize on it,” shrugged Dion Lewis.

“That (was) probably a turning point in the game, going down there and making that drive after giving that first down on that punt,” said tight end Rob Gronkowski. “That was huge.”

Tennessee coach Mike Mularkey sounded a sour note when asked if he got an explanation for the reversal.

“No,” said Mularkey after the game. “At that point, I got tired of the explanations I was getting. So no, I did not.”

Mularkey, who said he would “never blame officiating for costing us,” was also asked about a disputed offensive pass interference call on Tennessee receiver Eric Decker.

“That one, I won’t even talk about,” he said. “That one goes down in history.”