We’ve gotten plenty of e-mails from Giants fans regarding a superficially odd second-half call during which Pats coach Bill Belichick used the red challenge flag to trigger a reply review as to the question of whether Chase Blackburn of the Giants got off the field before the snap on a punt.  The outcome was significant, because the five-yard penalty gave New England another first down. 

Our simple answer?  “Hey Giants fans — you won the damn game.  Why are you bitching about a call that doesn’t matter?”

The more involved answer is that the procedure, and the call, were accurate.  The same issue came up during a Week Sixteen game between the Vikings and the Redskins.  Under the rules, replay can be used in that circumstance.  Under Rule 15, Section 9, part (c), item 5, one of the expressly-listed reviewable plays is:  “Number of players on the field.”

It doesn’t mean that all missed penalties can now be detected via replay.  It simply means that this is one of the specific issues for which replay can be used.