Bizarre Play In The Eagles Vs. Bears Game Leaves Fans Dumbfounded

The Eagles battle against the Bears in the NFC Wild Card playoffs Sunday night included one of the more bizarre plays in recent football history.

It came at the end of the first half with the clock ticking down as the Bears were driving down the field, and the game tied 3-3.

Bears quarterback Mitch Trubisky dropped back and fired a shot from midfield down to around the 10 yard line. That's where it was seemingly caught on the run by Bears receiver Anthony Miller.

However, Eagles cornerback Cre'Von LeBlanc managed to wedge his arm in Miller's grasp, and as Miller came down, the ball popped out.

The ball bounced several feet away, but LeBlanc and Miller paid it no mind. Players on the field seemed to assume the ball was dead and that there had been no reception. The whistle blew and officials ruled no catch.

However, referees immediately began to review the play. Slow motion replay showed that Miller took several steps and had clear possession of the ball before he went down, meaning that he had made the catch. But LeBlanc knocked it out, meaning that there was a fumble. But the first person to "recover" the fumble was the referee.

Numerous options were on the table. Would the ball go to the Eagles at place of the fumble? Would it go to the Bears at the point of reception?

In announcing the decision, head official Tony Corrente sounded confused and uncertain. The catch was made, the ball was fumbled, but the ball did not advance. Instead, it went back to the Bears at midfield. Essentially, the entire play was nullified because no one recovered the fumble.

According to official NFL rules, as announcers later discovered, there's a little known provision that states that if there's no clear recovery, it can't be ruled a catch.

The entire situation left fans just as dumbfounded as announcers and halftime analysts. Watch the play for yourself:

The Bears went on to kick a field goal, making the score 6-3. As of early in the third quarter, the Eagles lead the game, 10-6.

Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images