Kirk Cousins 'fumble' looked like an incomplete pass

The Philadelphia Eagles clinched their 30-17 victory Sunday over the Washington Redskins on a 20-yard fumble return by defensive lineman Fletcher Cox.

It's fair to question whether the play should have been ruled a fumble at all.

On the play, referee Brad Allen ruled that Redskins quarterback Kirk Cousins lost the ball when hit by Eagles pass rusher Brandon Graham -- and, presumably, before his hand started moving forward. Cox scooped the ball and ran for the score.

Replays, however, showed the ball appearing to move forward from Cousins' hand. In that circumstance, according to NFL rules, the play should have been called an incomplete pass.

Here's how the NFL rule book defines a forward pass:

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