Why Packers weren't awarded TD on Christian Watson fumble despite recovery in end zone

Mike Moraitis

Why Packers weren't awarded TD on Christian Watson fumble despite recovery in end zone image

Sarah Kloepping/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

The Green Bay Packers thought they had a touchdown late in the second quarter of the wild-card game against the Chicago Bears on Saturday night after wide receiver Christian Watson's fumble was recovered in the end zone.

Watson made a diving attempt to score a touchdown after a long reception but lost control of the ball before crossing the goal line.

His teammate, fellow wide receiver Romeo Doubs, recovered the fumble in the end zone but the Packers weren't awarded the touchdown.

Here's why.

Why Packers weren't awarded a touchdown

The offense wasn't given the touchdown because the Packers weren't able to advance the fumble in that situation, which was necessary to score because Watson fumbled the football at the one-yard line.

According to the NFL rule book, the offense cannot advance a fumble if it occurs on fourth down, so that's why Doubs' recovery wasn't a score.

Luckily for Green Bay, the offense was able to eventually punch the ball into the end zone, so the fumble didn't end up coming back to bite the Packers.

More NFL News

Staff Writer