After managing a 16-7 lead before halftime, the Steelers couldn’t just clink in the second half. They gave up 28 points on defense and eventually fell to a 25-35 loss on Sunday. Everything went downhill for them. But what really left the fans scratching their head was the 4th quarter touchdown when Aaron Rodgers threw a 41-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Roman Wilson that appeared to be an incomplete pass. But thanks to the reply assist that the Steelers were later awarded, with the score. It’s crazy how often these calls stir up controversy.

While for an average fan, these decisions often leave room for judgment calls that leave fans confused. Experts have now sparked a discussion over the NFL rules. “Replay assists versus you have to challenge …” Cris Collinsworth said.

“So, on that play it was objectively clear and obvious without any further analysis that it was a touchdown because he got the control, two feet down, took an additional step,” NFL rules analyst Terry McAulay explained. “On the line feed we can see it was a touchdown. So replay assist, that’s when they can come in and review it immediately and fix it.

“Terry, would you grant me it’s hard to understand what the difference is and the blurring of the line sometimes comes down to plays,” Collinsworth continued. “Is this an evolving art or do we actually have hard and fast rules here?”

“It’s evolving and they’ve gotten better with it, being more consistent with it,” McAulay responded. “One of the key things I said was ‘without further analysis.’ If they’ve got to go on and look at several different angles … they’re not going to assist. Plays like this that can be done really very quickly with just minimal analysis, that’s where they’re going to go and replay assist and it needs to be objective.”

The Steelers finally get a touchdown despite swirling controversies

The play came during the fourth quarter with about 3:43 left on the clock. Aaron Rodgers hit Roman Wilson on a quick short pass to the right side. Wilson picked up 5 yards before getting pushed by Green Bay‘s cornerback Keisean Nixon. That receiver set up a first down at Pittsburgh’s 41-yard line. Wilson lost the ball, but due to replay assist, it was clear that the 24-year-old wideout had scored a touchdown for his regiment. This technology has come in handy and stirred things up this season.

In week 8’s Buccaneers and Saints matchup, Antoine Winfield Jr. looked like he had a huge difference-making touchdown after scooping a fumble from Jamel Dean. This would’ve pushed the Bucs up 14-0, but the assist replay took it away because of a “phantom whistle” and a messy possession call. No, just this week, the week 6 game between the Lions and the Chiefs is the same story.

Detroit pulled off what looked like a genius trick play touchdown. Jared Goff under the center, went in motion and took a direct snap, and threw it back to Goff for the score. The crowd went crazy until the reply assist stepped in. The officials started talking it over, a in no time a flag came. The play was wiped as an “illegal motion”.

Well, on the bright side, it shows how the league is taking fairness and accuracy seriously. Even though the reviews can be frustrating in the moment, they ensure the right calls. After all, every player should be judged by the rulebook and not by the quick reactions on the field. These decisions in games that mention big names like Rodgers are proof that the NFL is prioritizing integrity over convenience.