Belichick: Coaches should be allowed to challenge plays under 2 minutes

New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick believes NFL coaches should be allowed to challenge plays under two minutes.

"Provided the team has a challenge, they should have the opportunity to challenge really any play," Belichick said Monday when asked about the controversial play that took place late in the Minnesota Vikings' victory against the Buffalo Bills on Sunday, according to ESPN's Mike Reiss.

Bills wide receiver Gabe Davis made a diving catch with 17 seconds left in the fourth quarter but visibly lost control of the ball after hitting the ground. The play, which wasn't reviewed by officials, was key in helping Buffalo set up a field goal to force overtime.

NFL senior vice president of officiating Walt Anderson said postgame the play should have been reviewed and ruled incomplete, according to ESPN's Alaina Getzenberg.

"I get forward progress, and things like that, that you can't challenge," Belichick added. "I'm not talking about that. I'm saying not having the ability to challenge a play that could impact the outcome of the game. Even calls like holding and pass interference and things like that, I don't see why those plays can't be reviewed (by coach's challenge)."

The NFL doesn't allow coaches to challenge plays under two minutes, in part so they aren't allowed to manipulate challenges strategically to stop the clock, Reiss notes.

"The rules are the rules, the competition committee and the league vote on the rules, so whatever they are, that's what they are," Belichick said. "I think that, provided that the team has a challenge, they should have the opportunity to challenge, really, any play."

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