The New England Pats won their first game of the preseason against the Miami Hurricanes, but their first-round victory in Super Bowl LI was overshadowed by a controversial play in the third quarter.
It was a play that drew outrage from the league office, prompting commissioner Roger Goodell to issue an official statement that would make it clear that the play was not a call that should have been overturned.
Goodell made the statement after reviewing the video that was shown by ESPN analyst Mike Pereira, who took a hit from Patriots safety Devin McCourty.
The play, which the league said was intentional, was reviewed by a replay review committee and Goodell found that McCourTY did not commit an unsportsmanlike act.
But NFL vice president of officiating Dean Blandino, who is also the NFL’s associate vice president for officiating, said after the game that the replay review was not an issue and that the Patriots did not receive any penalty for the play.
“I have not heard anything at all to suggest that there was any misconduct by any player or any official on the field,” Blandino said after Saturday’s game.
“The referees, the players, and the coaches had a great deal of respect for each other.”
The Patriots, who lost to the Broncos in overtime, will face the Carolina Panthers on Sunday night in their first preseason game.
The Dolphins will open the season at home against the Buffalo Bills.
The Patriots are 2-0 against the Dolphins this season, including a win over them last year in the AFC Championship Game.
This is the first time in the NFL that two teams have gone head-to-head.
Miami won 27-23 in Miami in the regular season in the first game after the AFC championship game was postponed because of Hurricane Irma.
The game was replayed at Miami Stadium, where the Dolphins defeated the Patriots 27-21.
Miami lost the AFC title game in overtime in the 2014 playoffs, a loss that sent the Dolphins to the Super Bowl.
The team is 4-1 against the Patriots this season.
The Panthers won their season opener 26-10 at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Mass.
