I’m no NE fan....but this can’t be the correct call. As soon as the ball has been snapped if *any* player is interfered with the flag is thrown and an interference penalty is applied - regardless of if the ball was even thrown to (or not) the player that was interfered with. The ball was not thrown out of bounds, to say that the interfered player could not be “in the play” is a ridiculous and subjective opinion of a referee. The whole point is that without being interfered with the player *might* have been able to influence the play - which in this case might only have been to stop the ball from being intercepted, the fact that it was the last play of the game is irrelevant. It was interference with a player near to where the ball was thrown and here should have been another play.
So now all interference calls should require a ref conference to decide if the infraction might have somehow impacted the play? How can you know?
I hate to say it but...NE was screwed.
I've seen quite a few bad/questionable calls (and NON-calls) by this year's referees. Makes you wonder...
You are correct you are not a referee. In order for defensive pass interference to be called there must be a legal forward pass that is catchable. Defensive pass interferenvce Only can be called ionize the ball is tossed. Before that defensive holding can be considered.