In a controversial finish, Minnesota Vikings tight end T.J. Hockenson was left fuming after NFL replay officials overturned his fourth-quarter touchdown catch, a pivotal moment in the team’s 28-22 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday.
The incident occurred with just under three minutes remaining in the game, when Hockenson made a diving 15-yard reception in the end zone that was initially ruled a touchdown by the on-field officials. However, the play was automatically reviewed, and the NFL’s replay center in New York intervened to overturn the call, deeming that Hockenson did not maintain control of the ball throughout the process of the catch.
Hockenson did not mince words in his post-game comments, labeling the decision “ridiculous” and expressing confusion over the catch rule. He revealed that two members of referee Bill Vinovich’s crew had privately affirmed that they believed it was a legitimate touchdown, adding to his frustration. “I had control the whole time; my hands were underneath it,” Hockenson insisted, questioning how New York could overturn the call without clear evidence.
The NFL’s vice president of instant replay, Mark Butterworth, explained in a pool report that enhanced broadcast footage showed the ball moving and hitting the ground before Hockenson regained control, meeting the standard for “clear and obvious” evidence required to reverse the on-field decision. This explanation did little to appease Hockenson or Vikings fans, who saw the reversal as a critical blow to their comeback hopes.
Statistically, the overturned touchdown resulted in a significant 16.4% swing in win probability for the Vikings, according to ESPN Analytics. Had the score stood, Minnesota would have trailed 28-26 with all three timeouts remaining, putting them in position to potentially win the game with a subsequent field goal, especially given kicker Will Reichard’s earlier 59-yard conversion.
Beyond this single play, the Vikings’ struggles in the red zone were a recurring theme throughout the game. They managed only one touchdown in six trips inside the Eagles’ 20-yard line, accumulating a mere nine net yards on 21 plays in those situations. This inefficiency, coupled with two turnovers—including an interception returned for a touchdown by Eagles linebacker Jalyx Hunt—proved costly.
Quarterback Carson Wentz acknowledged the team’s self-inflicted wounds, noting erratic play and penalties that derailed scoring opportunities. For instance, a holding penalty negated a touchdown pass, and a bad snap led to a loss of yardage, forcing field goal attempts instead of touchdowns. Wide receiver Justin Jefferson also pointed to his own drop in the end zone as a missed chance.
The loss drops the Vikings to a 3-3 record, adding urgency to their upcoming Thursday night game against the Los Angeles Chargers. Coach Kevin O’Connell indicated he would seek clarification from the league on the overturned call and other disputed penalties, but emphasized the need for the team to address its red-zone execution moving forward. While the replay controversy captured headlines, it underscored broader issues for Minnesota, including offensive consistency and defensive lapses against the Eagles’ big plays.