NEW ORLEANS — It all worked out in the end for the Patriots, but they were on the wrong side of one of the more bizarre flags thrown this season.

Patriots quarterback Drake Maye hit wide receiver DeMario Douglas for a 61-yard touchdown early in Sunday’s 25-19 win over the Saints. Well after the play was over, an official threw a flag as the Patriots were celebrating in the end zone for pass interference on wide receiver Stefon Diggs, who was on the opposite side of the field.

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This “offensive pass interference” erased a 61-yard TD for the #Patriots. Outrageous call. pic.twitter.com/lmeUzCbE7S

— Andrew Callahan (@_AndrewCallahan) October 12, 2025

“On that play, we ruled blocking downfield by No. 8 early during the play,” referee Adrian Hill told ESPN’s Mike Reiss in a pool report. “So, if there is a situation where a player blocks downfield, it’s not a foul until a pass is thrown, so you kind of put that in the bank. And then the pass was thrown downfield later, that created the offensive pass interference.”

The penalty was not announced until the Patriots’ field goal team was on the field for an extra point.

“I was about to sit down (on the bench),” Maye said after the game.

Hill was asked why the flag was thrown so late.

“The official was processing the play and then he came to me over the 020 (official-to-official communications system). Because it was a long-developing play, he had to rewind back to what happened at the beginning of the play, and process that,” Hill said.

Diggs was called for another close offensive pass interference penalty late in the game.

“I’m never going to say it’s OPI,” Diggs said after the game.

Douglas said he was confused by the call since he was already on the sideline when it was announced. He was happy to see the Patriots still score a touchdown later in the drive when Maye connected to Kayshon Boutte in the end zone.