Referee Gene Steratore says eyes made decision on 4th and 1, paper reaffirmed it

Referee Gene Steratore used replay to take a catch and possibly the game away from the Dallas Cowboys in a 2014 NFL Divisional Playoff loss to the Green Bay Packers.

He said it was his eyes, not the folded piece of paper that has now gone viral, that helped him make the call on fourth and 1 that helped the Cowboys beat the Oakland Raiders 20-17 Sunday night, keeping their playoff hopes alive.

After a pass to tight end Jason Witten for a first down was overturned on replay, the Cowboys went for it on fourth and 1 from their on 39 with 4 minutes, 31seconds left in the game and the scored tied 17-17.

A sneak by quarterback Dak Prescott was too close to call. The chain came out and then Steratore placed the paper between the ball and yard marker before ruling a first down.

The Cowboys would end the drive with a field goal, proving to be the margin of victory after a final Raiders rally came up short when quarterback Derek Carr fumbled through the end zone.

This story was originally published December 18, 2017 at 12:34 AM with the headline "Referee Gene Steratore says eyes made decision on 4th and 1, paper reaffirmed it."