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ArticleWeird rule from Saints-Lions wasn't mentioned during AFC Championship
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Denver quarterback Jarrett Stidham (not Drew Brees) got the snap in shotgun formation. Stidham dropped back, apparently looking to set up a screen pass. Patriots linebacker Christian Ellis gave chase. Stidham started his throwing motion. Before he got rid of the ball, Ellis made contact with Stidham. The pass, which was initially deemed to have gone forward, ultimately was determined to have been a backward pass, recovered by the Patriots.
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Stidham's AFC Championship pass ruled backward, TD negated; obscure rule never mentioned.

Stidham's AFC Championship play against the Patriots was ruled a backward pass recovered by New England with no advance, negating what would have been a touchdown. The ruling hinged on whether Stidham had begun his throwing motion before linebacker Christian Ellis made contact; if he had, the pass would have been deemed forward regardless of its backward trajectory. The obscure rule that would have clarified this—treating any pass thrown after the quarterback begins his throwing motion as forward—was never mentioned or discussed during or after the game, leaving ambiguity about whether the Broncos were disadvantaged by the failure to apply it.

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