PFWA Pool Reporter Greg Auman Interview with Referee Brad Allen
Carolina Panthers vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Saturday, January 3, 2026
Question: What did you see on the third quarter swing pass to Carolina’s Rico Dowdle initially ruled an incompletion that was later ruled a backwards pass?
Allen: “The line judge made an initial ruling of incomplete, then the down judge saw that the pass was clearly backward.”
Question: Was replay assist used on the play?
Allen: “Replay assist was not used on that play, that ruling was made on the field.”
Question: The rules analyst on ESPN called it an erroneous whistle (one official signaled an incomplete pass) How did you come to the conclusion that the Panthers should have lost yards (2nd-and-10 vs. 2nd-and-17)? Should the Panthers have gotten the choice to either replay the down or keep the ball where it was ruled?
Allen: “What was reported to me was the ruling on the field was a backward pass, and once it was possessed, the receiver or runner gave himself up which by rule caused the play to become dead. Because of the erroneous whistle, the Panthers could have had a choice to replay the down.”
Question: What was seen on the offensive pass interference call against Carolina that negated a long pass completion in the third quarter?
Allen: “The covering official saw that the receiver created separation more than one-yard downfield, which by rule is illegal and is offensive pass interference.”
