During the Divisional Round game between the Buffalo Bills and Cincinnati Bengals, a play in the fourth quarter helped re-ignite the debate about the Josh Dobbs fumble in the Tennessee Titans’ Week 18 loss.
Of course, the Dobbs fumble changed the entire game, as the Jacksonville Jaguars were able to score what was the game-winning touchdown off it, helping eliminate the Titans in the process.
The play in question on Sunday occurred in the fourth quarter, when a fumble was called on a Josh Allen pass that was ultimately ruled an incomplete pass upon review.
Afterwards, Twitter recalled the Dobbs fumble and compared the two, and it’s clear the same ruling should’ve been made in Titans-Jaguars. Thanks to AtoZ Sports Nashville, we have a side-by-side of the two plays.
If Josh Allen’s was “incomplete” should Josh Dobbs’ be a incomplete? #Titans pic.twitter.com/a4FvK9zb7c
— AtoZ Sports Nashville (@AtoZSports) January 22, 2023
As you can see, the two clips are nearly identical, yet Allen’s was called an incomplete pass and Dobbs’ wasn’t. Here’s how Twitter reacted.
Wondering what #Titans QB Josh Dobbs what would you say about THAT call be overturned?
— Kayla Anderson (@KaylaAndersonTV) January 22, 2023
— Mickey Ryan (@MickeyRyan1045) January 22, 2023
Ohhhh….now….that’s an incomplete pass… 🤷🏻♂️
— Mickey Ryan (@MickeyRyan1045) January 22, 2023
people are confused by the forward pass rule, but it’s actually very simple.
-if your name is Josh Dobbs or another QB with little name recognition it is a fumble.
-if your name is Josh Allen or another QB that’s beloved by the NFL, it’s incomplete.— Sundays in Nashville (@SundaysinNash) January 22, 2023
This is soooo close to the 4th quarter Josh Dobbs play in Week 18. That was ruled a fumble.
— Andrew Siciliano (@AndrewSiciliano) January 22, 2023
The Josh Allen play looked almost identical to the Josh Dobbs one.
— Terry McCormick (@terrymc13) January 22, 2023
JOSH DOBBS WOULD LIKE A WORD pic.twitter.com/BBHWPBgSHJ
— No Context Tennessee Titans (@NoContextTitans) January 22, 2023
This Josh Allen play is almost exactly like the Josh Dobbs play in Titans-Jags game that the refs called a fumble.
But, of course, it gets overturned for Allen and called an incomplete pass.
— Joey Garrison (@joeygarrison) January 22, 2023
If Josh Dobbs’ is a fumble (which I thought it was) then that is a fumble.
— Jared Stillman (@JaredStillman) January 22, 2023
Wasn't an incomplete pass for Josh Dobbs…
— Buck Reising (@BuckReising) January 21, 2023
Josh Dobbs when seeing they ruled Josh Allen in a “throwing motion therefore no fumble.” pic.twitter.com/2sQQPTJonD
— Big Joe (@BIGJOEONTHEGO) January 22, 2023
That Josh Allen play was more of a fumble than the Josh Dobbs called fumble a couple weeks ago!! WTF is going on out here? #Titans #BillsMafia
— Dale Ryman (@DaleRyman_WSAW) January 22, 2023
Me on hold with NFL HQ asking why Josh Dobbs didn’t get the same call pic.twitter.com/SXPYQO36bk
— Nick Lombardi (@NF_Lombardi) January 22, 2023
Apparently that’s an incomplete pass for literally every QB in the league but Josh Dobbs. There’s been like 3 examples of similar plays since the Dobbs play happened, and every one has been called an incomplete pass.
— Brandon Haghany (@HagHaney) January 22, 2023
I am furious right now! So we can reverse the call for Josh Allen and make it an incomplete pass but that was identical to Josh Dobbs pass!!! @NFLOfficiating Yall should be ashamed!! #Titans #Bills
— Kecia Bible (@Keciabible) January 22, 2023
The Josh Allen pass was overturned and ruled incomplete ?! How was that any different from the Titans Dobbs “fumble” that ended the game??
I’m so confused.
— Katy Morgan (@katymorganwx) January 22, 2023
Justice for Josh Dobbs
— Jack Gentry (@jackagentry) January 22, 2023
For the #Titans fans getting mad about the Josh Dobbs play again remember there's a chance Todd Downing is not fired if that play was overturned. I'll take the tradeoff 🤣
— Parish Sharkey (@DaOne_PShark) January 22, 2023
Titans fans have been forced to see that exact play called an incomplete pass in every playoff game since it was called a fumble for Josh Dobbs.
— TJack(s) (@TaylorJackson17) January 22, 2023