Referee Gene Steratore on Index Card Ruling: 'Nothing More Than a Reaffirmation'

Referee Gene Steratore defended his odd decision to use an index card to help determine a critical first down in Sunday's game between the Oakland Raiders and Dallas Cowboys, saying its use was "nothing more than a reaffirmation."

"Didn't use the card to make the final decision," Steratore told reporters. "The final decision was made visually. The card was used nothing more than a reaffirmation of what was visually done. My decision was visually done based on the look from the pole."

Use of the folded card drew criticism from fans and multiple members of the Raiders, who felt Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott fell short on a 4th-and-1 run from the Dallas 39-yard line. Broadcast angles appeared to show space between the spot of the ball and first-down marker.

"I don't want to get fined, OK?" Raiders coach Jack Del Rio said. "I'm not happy with the way things were done in a lot of different situations throughout the night. They did the best that they could. I had a different viewpoint. I saw air. It was pretty obvious. Again, they do the best they can with a tough job."

Steratore said the index card touched the ball when he placed it down for the reaffirmation.

"That was already finished," Steratore said. "The ball was touching the pole. I put the card in there, and as soon as it touched, it was nothing more than a reaffirmation. The decision was made based on my visual from the top looking down and the ball touching the front of the pole."

The first down helped spur Dallas on a game-winning drive that ended in a 19-yard Dan Bailey field goal. Derek Carr fumbled into the end zone on the Raiders' final possession to give Dallas a 20-17 win and keep their playoff hopes alive.

"Well, I love any game that will allow you to just stick it in the pile and then come back and measure it with a piece of cigarette paper," Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said.

The Raiders' loss dropped them to 6-8, all but ending any chance they had at making a last-ditch effort to win the AFC West.