Throw to Michael Crabtree properly ruled a run Brad Biggs
Michael Crabtree’s run on Monday night at Arizona is going to remain a run.
The San Francisco 49ers wanted an official scoring change made to have it changed to a passing play because quarterback Alex Smith completed 18 of 19 passes in the game. Smith needed one more attempt to qualify for the NFL record for completion percentage in a game. According to Cam Inman of the San Jose Mercury News, the Elias Sports Bureau ruled it was a backward pass to Crabtree and thus a run. When watching the game, there was no doubt Smith threw the ball backward.
The Niners had lobbied for a statistical change because with a switch Smith would have held the NFL record. More important than a record, though, is that Smith got rolling and San Francisco was highly productive against a stout defense on the road.
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Brad Biggs covers the Bears for the Chicago Tribune
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