The NFL has admitted that it was wrong when Patriots cornerback Ellis Hobbs was flagged for pass interference on Reggie Wayne in New England’s AFC Championship Game loss to Indianapolis last Sunday. The call ultimately led to the tying score for the Colts, who advanced to the Super Bowl with a 38-34 victory.

On the play — second-and-7 from the Pats’ 19-yard line — Hobbs was face-guarding Wayne in the back left corner of the end zone. The pass from Peyton Manning hit Hobbs on the back of his left arm, and after the game the second-year corner, who combined with Asante Samuel to give a great effort on Pro Bowl players Wayne and Marvin Harrison, said he never touched his man.

But the flag was thrown, and pass interference is not one of the calls that coaches can challenge. Indy got first-and-goal from the one, and on the next play Manning found wide-open former Patriot Dan Klecko for a touchdown. The Colts also made a two-point conversion to tie the game, 21-21.

On jaguars.com, the Web site of the Jacksonville Jaguars, league official Dean Blandino confirmed to reporter Vic Ketchman that it was a bad call. Blandino was in the replay booth at the RCA Dome and said Hobbs should not have been called for pass interference, saying that he did nothing to impede Wayne from catching the ball and did not make contact with the receiver.

Blandino said that face-guarding, which game referee Bill Carollo did not cite as the reason for the penalty, has not been illegal for several years.

One Patriots player reached yesterday said, "What can you do?," when told about the league’s admission.

smanza@projo.com