Yes, he did break the goal line. I am no Steeler fan, nor a Seahawk fan. Yesterday, I cared less who won.
But as far as that call goes - The end zone begins where the white goal line begins and extends indefinitely perpendicular, upwards, into space from each side line. The end zone ends where the white line begins on the end line and extends to each side line.
The ball, any part of the ball whether it is the tip, or the side panel has to simply "touch" that goal line, albeit in space, extended. The ball, cradled in his right arm, crossed that perpendicular line extended as he was in flight. That was the touchdown. The play was over right then and there, while he was in the air. It doesn't have to get into the blue area of the end zone, it simply has to "touch" the imaginary line extended.
In flight, he was pushed backwards in mid air, landed short of the goal line when he came down, but as soon as the ball touched the line in possession of a player, it is a touchdown. Reply showed that. There was a camera in perfect position to capture that shot. It was the exact shot the linesman or line judge had.
This picture is from the back of the end zone and even it shows TD in flight. Look at the goal line in relation to the ball. The TV camera was a perfect picture.
