Here’s NFL’s thinking behind final decision

WHAT THE FUMBLE?! Bizarre call costs Jets chance to shock Pats

Austin Seferian-Jenkins momentarily loses control of the ball as he goes in for what was originally ruled a Jets fourth-quarter touchdown. A review, though, determined he hadn’t regained control before hitting the ground, turning it into a soul-crushing fumble in the Jets’ 24-17 loss to New England.

Many Jets were still scratching their heads after Sunday’s 24-17 loss to the Patriots, confused about the Austin Seferian-Jenkins would-be touchdown that became a fumble amd touchback upon further review.

Referee Tony Corrente spoke with a pool reporter after the game and explained the ruling that was made by NFL vice president of officiating Al Riveron in New York.

He re are a few things he explained:

1. The dispute was not about whether Seferian-Jenkins caught the ball. They ruled he did catch it and was a runner. Then the ball came loose, and they were trying to determine whether he regained control before going out of bounds. This is why the ruling was a fumble and not an incomplete pass.

“Nothing to do with the catch,” Corrente said. “It was all dealing with goal line and going to the ground.”

2. The off icials felt he did not regain control of the ball before he hit the ground.

“Because he lost the ball on his way to the ground the f irst time and had to re-grasp,” Corrente said. “That means now it’s a loose ball. He has to have control and survive the ground in the process of the recovery or, as we say, the process of the catch.”

3. While the Jets and their fans may feel it was a controversial call, Corrente felt confident after seeing an end-zone camera view.

“Well, we went through two or three primary looks and then this other shot came up,” Corrente said. “When the other shot came up, it was just ‘boom, boom, boom.’ It was a pretty quick determination. It was pretty obvious.”