NFL To Review Whistle Rule

Trailing 38-31, the Broncos reached the 1 but on second-and-goal, Cutler reared back to throw and the ball slipped out of his hands, bounced off the grass and into linebacker Tim Dobbins’ arms.

“Fumble, I think,” acknowledged Cutler, who blamed the slick, new ball.

Referee Ed Hochuli blew his whistle when the ball came out, ruling it an incomplete pass. A review showed that it should have been ruled a fumble. Instant replay rules, however, don’t allow the opponent to gain possession in such situations.

The play is also likely to be reviewed in the offseason by the league's competition committee, which normally reviews all controversial plays. "It's going to require a great deal of discussion," said Titans coach Jeff Fisher, the cochairman of the competition committee. "It's happened at times. It happened in a game against us at Indianapolis years ago. ... When the whistle blows and the pass is ruled incomplete, there's just no way currently that you can award possession."