In the NFL, all tackles are banned. A picture of Broncos holder Jamie Dixon is now causing a furor. Was the game-winning field goal against the Bills illegal?

There were two field goals with time running out in the Denver Broncos’ 24-22 win over the Buffalo Bills.

Broncos kicker Wil Lutz became the man of the “last second” both before the break and at the end of the fourth quarter.

At the end of the second quarter, Denver’s kicker put the ball between the uprights from 40 yards. Two quarters later, it was a 36-yard field goal from Lutz that was enough to win the Monday Night Game for the Broncos.

But shortly after the game, the first tweets and close-ups of the kicks found their way onto social media.

Were the kicks – and especially the all-important kick – irregular?

Did the Broncos holder use banned adhesives?

Fact is: Everything was clean with Lutz. Instead, his holder Jamie Dixon is now accused of cheating.

The close-up of the ball holder on the decisive kick shows a brown spot on the surface of Dixon’s hand. Fans conclude that the Broncos holder had adhesive on his hands to better catch the long snapper’s ball

Are we going to talk about what’s on Riley Dixon’s hand orrrrr…. @NFL @Broncos @BuffaloBills pic.twitter.com/Ng0eCH9vEV

– Nick (@NickC1122) November 14, 2023

The NFL has banned the use of tacky substances – such as stickum or resin, which handball players use – since 1981. The “Lester Hayes Rule” prohibits “sticky, or slippery substances on a player’s body, equipment or uniform”.

However, there is no evidence that Dixon used such a substance