@This Ain't Chopped Liver - Refs ruled that Pearson was shoved OB as he jumped for the catch. That was a clutch play!!!
I think the rule then was you had to get both feet down and from the one camera angle we have on the near side of the field it looks like he would not have placed both in bounds, and a good chance not even one, in my opinion. I wish that Wright had not pushed him so that we would have found out. Grant said later, the ref gave Pearson the benefit of the doubt. But if not for that, we likely would not have the Hail Mary name today, in that capacity.
from Football Zebras—
4th and 16
Staubach connected with Pearson near the sideline, but landed out of bounds at the 50-yard line. Head linesman Jerry Bergman ruled that it was a completion, and that he would have landed in bounds if Vikings cornerback Nate Wright had not pushed Pearson out. The rule, which was changed in 2008, allowed the official to rule a completion in case of a “force out” prior to being able to get two feet down in bounds. Vikings coach Bud Grant disagreed with the call, but said that when Wright contacted Pearson, “the official gave Pearson the benefit of the doubt.”
Dec. 28, 1975 NFC Divisional Playoff: Cowboys at Vikings Thirty-five years ago, “Hail Mary” became a football term after Cowboys quarterback Roger Staubach so described the desperation pass that connected with Drew Pearson in a playoff game with the Vikings. In the final drive, the Vikings were...
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