This play was mentioned in the Monday morning takeaways column, but I didn’t spend a lot of time on it since I wanted to break it out as a sidebar story.

The sequence in question is the two-point conversion that took place in the third quarter, the Carson Wentz option that was initially ruled a success, then reviewed and reversed.

Why?

Well the NFL explained that Wentz “gave himself up” on the play and provided this report via Vice President of Officiating Al Riveron:

Riveron, in part:

After review, the quarterback dives, gives himself up, and prior to crossing the goal line, his knee touches the ground. Therefore, by rule, the two-point conversion is not successful.

Okay, so typically a player is not considered “down” until they are contacted by an opponent. We know that rule does not apply to quarterbacks because the NFL wants to avoid late hits and injury.

But why would it apply to a goal line conversion?

Common sense says that the quarterback is certainly not giving himself up when diving for a two-point attempt. You either cross the goal line or you don’t; there’s no slide to avoid getting hit because there’s no follow-up play. The situation is completely different than what you would encounter during a typical drive.

It really doesn’t require more explanation than that, but good on the Eagles media corps for asking about it today, which resulted in this exchange:

Zach Berman: On the two point conversion, what’s your understanding of why that was overturned? And what else could Carson have done in that situation?

Pederson: So it’s the new rule now. Basically, because Carson was diving, you’re considered giving yourself up. Wherever your knee touches, whether your touched or not, you’re down at that spot. It’s no different if your quarterback is sliding on a scramble on the field. It’s the same, you’re going to be down at that spot. So it was short.

Berman: Should he no longer dive for the end zone?

Pederson: No, I mean the dive was fine. We just gotta be aware that, if you can, keep your knee up. But that’s just the rule.

Reporter: Was that the call? Or did he read that?

Pederson: That was a read. The play was actually designed for Ertz on that one and they defended that really well, but they also gave us that lane and Carson reacted and took it.

There’s your explanation with a bit of added color from Pederson.

I don’t get it, but I guess it is what it is.