I’m aware it wasn’t ruled a catch.It wasn't ruled a catch on the field because he didn't maintain control through the entire process. He didn't gain control until after Wags had already started to wrestle it away.
It was a very difficult play to call, and the ref wasn't in a good position to see the ball. I'm not even sure if he could see if Jones' knee was touching the ground or not or when he had control. Not seeing any evidence of the receiver being down by contact, he ruled on what he did see, which is Wagner coming up with the ball.
All turnovers are reviewed automatically, so officials are instructed that when in doubt, call it a turnover and they'll straighten it out on review rather than forcing one of the teams to burn a challenge/timeout. Since the ref wasn't in the best position to see the play, it's quite possible that's what was going through his mind when he made the call.
My issue is that “replay” is supposed to ensure that the correct call was made, Yet we constantly see calls “stand” because it was ruled such or such on the field, if it were called the opposite way on the field then that would stand.
It’s like saying both or either is the correct call, only matters what was called “on the field” if what is called the field is going to be the determination why make spectators suffer through the process of going to replay.
Take this particular play as an example, if it had been “called on the field” as a catch and down by contact it would have stood (hypothetically). But it wasn’t called a catch so the call stands in replay.
Potentially saying that either call was ok (or correct).
Sure they overturn some plays but many just hold up solely because of how they were “called on the field”.
There are not two correct answers, there is one correct answer and replay is supposed to ensure the correct answer was called.
I’m not arguing that the wrong call was made in this situation, I’m saying that on any replay evaluation it should not be what was called on the field being the determining factor.