FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- The New England Patriots could have added to their forced turnover total in the first quarter of Monday's 30-23 victory over the Baltimore Ravens, as defensive end Trey Flowers strip-sacked quarterback Joe Flacco and initially recovered the football.
But referee Ed Hochuli whistled the play dead before the football was jarred free, later explaining that he ruled Flacco's forward progress stopped.
Such a decision could have angered Patriots coach Bill Belichick, but in a reflection of how he seems to hold Hochuli in high regard, he was empathetic on sports radio WEEI's "Dale and Holley Show" when discussing what unfolded.