Instant Replay Is Called Into Action on Third Play of Browns-Bears Game

CHICAGO — It didn’t take long for the NFL’s use of the instant replay in the 1986 season to have an impact.

On the third play of the Chicago Bears-Cleveland Browns game Sunday, referee Ben Dreith ordered a view of the instant replay to determine whether Cleveland recovered a Bears’ fumble in the end zone.

The replay showed that safety Al Gross had possession of the fumble before leaving the end zone, giving Cleveland a touchdown. The official in charge of the replay, Nick Skorich, is a former Browns’ coach.

The misplay came when the snap went beyond quarterback Jim McMahon and the ball bounced off scrambling players into the end zone where Gross fell on it.