Bottlegate

Bottlegate Game

Cleveland Browns Stadium, the site of the game
Jacksonville Jaguars (4–8) Cleveland Browns (6–6) 15 10 Head coach: Tom Coughlin Head coach: Butch Davis
1 2 3 4 Total JAX 9 0 0 6 15 CLE 0 0 7 3 10
Date	December 16, 2001
Stadium	Cleveland Browns Stadium, Cleveland, Ohio
Favorite	Browns by 2
Referee	Terry McAulay
Attendance	72,818
TV in the United States
Network	CBS
Announcers	Gus Johnson, Brent Jones

Bottlegate, also referred to as The Beer Bottle Game, was an officiating controversy that resulted in a fan riot during an American football game in the 2001 season of the National Football League (NFL) between the visiting Jacksonville Jaguars and the Cleveland Browns.

The inciting incident occurred in week 14 with the Browns sitting at 6–6, needing a win to keep their playoff hopes alive. Down 15–10 with 1:08 remaining, the Browns were forced to try to convert on 4th and 2 at the Jaguars' 12 yard line. Tim Couch took the snap and passed short to Quincy Morgan, who caught the ball for a 3-yard gain and a first down. Although Morgan appeared to bobble the football, officials called it a complete pass. Couch hurried the offense to the line of scrimmage and spiked the ball with 48 seconds remaining. The officials announced that they would review the 4th down conversion two plays earlier and overturned it, giving the ball to the Jaguars. It sparked controversy because officials cannot change a call for any play other than the most recent.

Enraged, Browns fans began throwing objects onto the field, mainly plastic beer bottles. Some fans began throwing the stadium's trash cans down to the field as well. After a few minutes, citing safety concerns, the officials announced that the game would end 48 seconds early and the officials and players exited the field. However, the league office called, telling them to finish the game.^[1] The teams and officials came back onto the field, and, after two quarterback kneels by the Jaguars, the game was over, 15–10.^[2][3]