Referee explains ruling on would-be N'Keal Harry TD

The New England Patriots were deprived of a touchdown Sunday when officials ruled receiver N'Keal Harry out of bounds at the 3-yard line as he tightroped the sideline into the end zone.

That said, what a freaking play by rookie WR N'Keal Harry pic.twitter.com/oOmYsMKxxM

- Tucker Boynton (@Tucker_TnL) December 9, 2019

After the game, head referee Jerome Boger said that the sideline official tasked with making the call had an obstructed view of the play.

"The covering official on the wing was blocked out by defenders," Boger said, according to NFL.com's Kevin Patra. "The downfield official, who was on the goal line and looking back toward the field of play, had that he stepped out at the 3-yard line. So, they got together and conferred on that. The final ruling was that he was out of bounds at the 3-yard line."

The Patriots were out of challenges.

"We all knew it was a touchdown. Everyone clearly saw it was a touchdown, but it was out of our control," Harry said.

The Patriots, trailing the Kansas City Chiefs 23-13 early in the fourth quarter, couldn't punch the ball in on three goal-to-go attempts and settled for a field goal.

They went on to lose the game 23-16.

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