Sports

Bears’ challenge for a touchdown turns into a fumble and turnover in bizarre ruling

john foxNam Y. Huh/AP

  • Chicago Bears running back Benny Cunningham dove for the end zone on a 23-yard run against the Green Bay Packers and was ruled down at the 1-yard line.
  • The Bears challenged the call, believing he scored.
  • The referees ruled that Cunningham actually fumbled out of the end zone, turning the ball over to the Packers.


A bizarre challenge ruling in the Chicago Bears-Green Bay Packers game came back to hurt the Bears more than it helped.

In the second quarter, Bears running back Benny Cunningham had a 23-yard scramble and was tackled at the 1-yard line. Bears coach John Fox challenged the play, arguing that Cunningham scored a touchdown.

The referees reviewed the play, and found that Cunningham actually fumbled the ball out of the end zone, resulting in a touchback. Not only did the Bears not score, the ruling actually turned the ball over to the Packers instead if giving it to the Bears on 1st-and-goal.

Here’s the play:

When the Bears win the challenge but lose the ball #Packerspic.twitter.com/Lrf3KFMfan

— Ben Bartenstein (@BenBartenstein) November 12, 2017

Bears coach John Fox could only close his eyes as the referees explained the ruling.

Benny Cunningham play ruled a touchback Packers ball pic.twitter.com/q38lfhvKnZ

— ⓂarcusD (@_MarcusD2_) November 12, 2017

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