An explanation

The following pool report was provided by Mark Gaughan of the Buffalo News.

Referee Gene Steratore on the sequence at the end of the first half.

Q: What was your view of the end of the first half? Why were the Bills not able to get another play off before the clock ran out and should the clock have been stopped?

A: At the end of the previous play, we did bring a kicking ball in with approximately 10 seconds left and the game clock running. A member of the Buffalo offense was downfield in another situation after the play had ended with two New England players. We were breaking that up. But we did have a football set to be set down with 9 seconds remaining in the half. The Buffalo player was not being restricted in any way to not be able to get back to the line to set up for the next play. Therefore there would be no foul for delay of game on the defense for not allowing an offensive player to get back to get set for the next play. The fact we had a football ready to be set for the attempt, there was no administrative stoppage because we had the football back and ready.

Q: Was the ball actually on the ground waiting for the Bills to snap it?

A: Well, actually we didn’t get to spot the ball on the field the entire day because of the weather but the ball was in hands of our umpire, as it was the entire day, waiting. With 9 seconds left in the half the umpire was at the spot with the football.