The play caused a lot of confusion and highlighted a gross inequity in the rules. Most fans around me thought the video review was to determine if it was intentional grounding, but the review was to determine if the LT QB was down before he released the ball, which he was. Since the play was dead when the officials called it an incomplete pass the clock should have stopped, but it continued to run from 1:12 down to 1:08. I don't believe the video review was even necessary for the officials to order the clock returned to 1:12, they should have done that anyway. The obvious inequity occurred when the officials thought the QB was down before the threw the ball and blew the play dead. They officials were not allowed by rule to take time off the clock even though it was completely clear that some amount of time had to expire. How much can never be known because we can never know exactly what they would have done, but it would take at least 5-6 seconds just to line up and spike the ball. More than likely they would have quickly called a play at the line and used at least 10 or so seconds.
The officials have the power to adjust the clock when it is obvious that an error has occurred, but that has always been interpreted that it must be a situation where the exact amount of time is known, which essentially means they can restore time when the clock is running when it should have been stopped, but almost never can take time off when it is stopped and should have been running because the exact amount is not known. That seems ridiculous and a reasonable or even conservative estimate has to be allowed. The NFL allows a runoff of time (usually 10 seconds) in similar situations. That makes more sense than ignoring the fact that some time had to expire.
The officials have the power to adjust the clock when it is obvious that an error has occurred, but that has always been interpreted that it must be a situation where the exact amount of time is known, which essentially means they can restore time when the clock is running when it should have been stopped, but almost never can take time off when it is stopped and should have been running because the exact amount is not known. That seems ridiculous and a reasonable or even conservative estimate has to be allowed. The NFL allows a runoff of time (usually 10 seconds) in similar situations. That makes more sense than ignoring the fact that some time had to expire.
