If you digest the play in sections
ITS A TOUCHDOWN. Forget the pass interference that is PI plain and simple. But to say these refs blew the call is wrong.
This play went as follows Seattle's QB passes in the endzone. Yes Tate comits PI but I believe the refs are concentrating on the ball up in the air. Greenbay's Jennings makes a great leap and gets both hands cleanly on the ball. At the same time Golden Tate is also in the Air and manages to get one hand on the ball. To this the rule reads as follow.
A player (or players) jumping in the air
has not legally gained possession of the ball until he satisfies the elements of a catch listed here.
Rule 8, Section 1, Article 3 of the
NFL Rule Book defines a catch:
A forward pass is complete (by the offense) or intercepted (by the defense) if a player, who is inbounds:
(a) secures control of the ball in his hands or arms prior to the ball touching the ground; and
(b)
touches the ground inbounds with both feet or with any part of his body other than his hands; and
(c) maintains control of the ball long enough, after (a) and (b) have been fulfilled, to enable him to perform any act common to the game (i.e., maintaining control long enough to pitch it, pass it, advance with it, or avoid or ward off an opponent, etc.).
When Tate is in the air he only has one hand on the ball. He lands with both feet at the same time and imediatedly grabs the ball with his free hand. At this time Tate has possesion of the ball with both hands on the ball and both feet inbounds. Tate then pulls the ball down towards him and this
causes Jennings who is still airborne to be pulled forward and lands on
one foot only. So in reality Tate is the first player to get possesion of the ball. Not until Tate is on his back does Jennings knee finally comes down and he now is also in possesion acoording to the rules. At this time both guys clearly have both hands on the ball and have both feet or another part of the body besides the hands come down in bounds (Jennings). At this point is when the simultaneous catch happens and the following rule applies.
Simultaneous Catch. If a pass is
caught simultaneously by two eligible opponents,
and both players retain it, the ball belongs to the passers. It is not a simultaneous catch if a player gains control first and an opponent subsequently gains joint control. If the ball is muffed after simultaneous touching by two such players, all the players of the passing team become eligible to catch the loose ball.
So as I explained it the ref did an excellent job interpreting the rule as it reads. What I don't understand is how the NFL cannot see this and basically save them the embarressment they have been going through.