NFL Refs Admit They Screwed Bengals With 2 Missed Penalties on Steelers TD on MNF

If you watched Monday night's game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Cincinnati Bengals, you remember that it wasn't even close. If you recall, the Steelers started to break away thanks to a Mason Rudolph touchdown pass to running back James Conner.

But technically, it should have never counted, per Bengals head coach Zac Taylor.

The first-year Cincy coach said via USA Today that the NFL league office confirmed based on replay review that the touchdown should have never counted due to a missed offensive pass interference penalty AND an ineligible receiver downfield.

Bengals coach Zac Taylor says league office has admitted missing ineligible receiver downfield and offensive pass interference on Pittsburgh's first score from Monday night https://t.co/bsyMn6ulst
— ProFootballTalk (@ProFootballTalk) October 3, 2019

When looking back on the play, officials saw that Steelers right tackle Matt Feller ran downfield (which he shouldn't have) and made contact with Bengals linebacker Preston Brown. Deeming a player ineligible isn't subject to review, but making contact with a player while ineligible is.

Yet, the in-stadium replay official and the league offices never triggered the review. As a result, the touchdown counted, instead of the Steelers facing a third-and-12 on Cincinnati's 31-yard line.

After the #Steelers TD, I could hear faintly on the broadcast what must’ve been one of the #Bengals coaches screaming for a review and somebody (likely Zac Taylor) saying, “I can’t. It’s a touchdown. I can’t do it.” Had to be the illegal man downfield the officials missed. pic.twitter.com/7SLfBEahMK
— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) October 1, 2019

While the NFL admitted they screwed up, it's too little, too late for the Cincinnati Bengals, as they lost the game 27-3 and fall to 0-4.

Zac Taylor and Co. will now look to rebound against the winless Arizona Cardinals in Week 5.