I'm Getting Roasted For Not Being A Real Ball Knower Because Of My Take From This Play In The Patriots/Bengals Game

Maybe I'm not a real Ball Knower? 

I posted this clip during the Patriots' sluggish win over the Bengals on Sunday. Third and seven for the Pats, leading by three late in the fourth quarter, trying to seal the game away with a few more first downs. 

Drake Maye looking for his third-down security blanket, Stefon Diggs. The pass was incomplete, and CBS gave us a pretty good replay from behind the play. 

Cincinnati CB DJ Turner breaks up the play, but clearly hits Diggs early in the process, right?  

Look, it's a bang-bang play, and saying Turner got there "way early" is probably a reach by me. But I thought this was a clear pass interference.

The Football Internet disagrees. 

At some point Monday morning, my post found the algo of all the real ball knowers on X.com. And it was an avalanche of people calling me an idiot. And worse. 

Ratioed into oblivion. On and on and on it went, just like this. 

I DVR every Patriots game so I can go back and watch it 2 or 3 times, like a real football guy. So, I pulled the tape this morning. Here's the angle from the front. 

This looks more egregious than the other angle! Turner runs right through Diggs as the receiver is trying to make the play. 

A few people sent me this from the NFL rules on PI -  "Acts that do not constitute pass interference include but are not limited to: (c) Playing through the back of a receiver in an attempt to make a play on the ball, provided it is not a personal foul.” 

I mean, I guess? But 'playing the ball' is certainly up for interpretation on many plays. Turner is going for the ball here, I'll grant you that, but he clearly hits Diggs early in the process. 

In the grand scheme of things, it was not a terrible call, and the Pats kicked the field goal and held on for the win. There are MUCH worse calls each week in the NFL, like this one in the Cowboys / Eagles game. 

This is a clear tip of the punt, so the roughing should have been negated. We never even got an official review of this. 

Pass Interference is tricky. In the case of this Turner/Diggs play, I'm just shocked at the volume of people saying I'm wrong here. 

I consider myself an expert in pass interference. From my couch, I'd say I'm close to 97% accurate on all PI calls. Documented. But this response from NFL Ref Social Media has me rattled. 

Maybe I'm not a real Ball Knower? This is certainly a tough way to find out.