Noles could have been saying that if they tacked him close, and the get the ball back, it would have been an easy 7. However Noles, that was a fumble. Possession change. Yes if he crossed it would have been ruled a safety, and then a free kick. Since he did not make it across, it became huge yardage loss ...with no loss of down. So it was 1st & 10 from the 12-yard line ...88-yards to go.