Why Patriots weren't given defensive TD after Jarrett Stidham fumble

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Late in the second quarter on Sunday in the AFC Championship Game, there was quite the odd officiating sequence.

There was a fumble, maybe. There was a Patriots touchdown, maybe. Or maybe it was a Jarrett Stidham intentional grounding for the Broncos.

First, the officials blew their whistle while the ball was loose.

Then, they threw a flag for Stidham intentional grounding.

But after replay assist, it was ruled a fumble.

The Patriots had run the fumble into the end zone for a touchdown on the field, but they weren't given the TD.

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Why wasn't it a Patriots defensive TD?

The problem was that the whistle blew.

The officials had blown the play dead, as if it was an incomplete pass, while the action took place on the field.

They couldn't go back and say, "Well the Patriots scored untouched anyway, so it's fine."

Once that whistle blew, the play was over.

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They could give the Pats the clear and obvious fumble recovery, but New England could only have the ball at the spot of the recovery.

It became less of a talking point when Drake Maye ran in for a touchdown two plays later, but it was still odd.