The Cincinnati Bengals' first playoff win in more than 30 years was not without controversy.
Tyler Boyd had an unintentional whistle on Joe Burrow's first-half touchdown pass, and, by rule, Down must be replayed if he inadvertently blows a whistle during a play. That didn't happen on Saturday as TD posted the Bengals' final 26-19 wild-card win over the Las Vegas Raiders.
NFL Senior Vice President Walt Anderson, however, said in a postgame pool report that officials on the field determined that the whistle had come after Boyd's touchdown catch.
"We confirmed with the referee and crew that on that play - they met and talked together - they determined they had a whistle, but that it was the whistle for them on the field when the receiver caught the ball. ,” Anderson told Athletic's Paul Dehner Jr.
The NFL initially deferred comment on the play to NBC rules expert and former NFL referee Terry Macaulay, who said, "They cannot do touchdowns from the rules on that play."
Anderson was asked whether officials had determined that the whistle was not blown when Burrow's pass was in the air.
"That's right," Anderson said. "They didn't realize that the whistle was blowing before the receiver caught the ball."
Anderson confirmed that an official on the field inadvertently blew the whistle but said he did not know who specifically blew the whistle.
"No," said Anderson. "The ruling on the field was a touchdown. But we still have to confirm any reviewable aspects of the play. So, we confirmed that the pass was thrown before the quarterback went out of bounds. We also determined that the pass. Was caught by the receiver in the last field, which was not out of bounds."
NFL rules prevent unintentional whistles from being reviewed.
After the game, Raiders interim head coach Rick Bisacchia eased the circumstances around the Boyd touchdown catch.
"I think it's a good crew," Bisakia said. "I feel like there's a lot of things going both ways in the game. ... I have a lot of problems with my job, I can't even umpire."