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In March, NFL owners voted to allow offensive and defensive pass interference to be subject to a coach’s challenge, with a booth review being initiated in the last two minutes of each half, even if no flag was initially called on the play. The Cincinnati Bengals' Mike Brown was the lone holdout among the league's 32 owners, indicative of widespread support for the rule both inside and outside of the NFL.
The Buffalo Bills' Doug Marrone was the first coach to exercise his right to challenge pass interference judgement calls, throwing the flag in the first quarter of his team's preseason opener against the Baltimore Ravens. According to Pro Football Talk's Josh Alper, Marrone argued that Bills receiver D.J. Chark was interfered withy by Ravens defensive back Anthony Averett on an incomplete, third-down throw from quarterback Gardner Minshew. Officials ruled that contact between Chark and Averett didn't meet the “clear and obvious standard” necessary to overturn the no-call on the field, causing Buffalo to lose a timeout and ultimately punt the ball away on fourth down.
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The rule change is in response to a season-altering no-call in the late fourth quarter of the NFC Championship game. As the New Orleans Saints led the Los Angeles Rams 23-20 with just less than two minutes remaining, Drew Brees threw an incomplete pass to Tommylee Lewis on third down. Video of the play makes it clear that Los Angeles defensive back Nickell Robey-Coleman hit Lewis well before the ball arrived, but officials threw no flag on the play. The Saints were forced to settle for a field goal, paving the way for the Rams' comeback win in overtime.
Commissioner Roger Goodell admitted shortly thereafter that a penalty should have been called. Days later, reports surfaced that the league was considering making pass interference calls to accessible to replay review.
