This could get messy.

The NFL’s goal was to avoid embarrassments like the one it experienced when the Saints were robbed of a trip to the Super Bowl because of a pass interference that wasn’t called in the NFC Championship last January. The result was a new rule under a one-year trial this season that will allow coaches to challenge pass interference — using replay to get it called or have it waved off.

While the goal was to avoid controversy, the NFL may have invited more of it this season.

The new rule states there must be “clear and obvious visual evidence” that pass interference did or did not occur. Pass interference, by rule, is an act that “significantly hinders” a player’s opportunity to catch the ball.

Still, what constitutes pass interference is not as black and white as the NFL would like to believe it is.

Of course, there is contact between receivers and defensive backs on nearly every pass outside of the allowed 1 yard. It will be up to the NFL to achieve consistency on how much contact is too much. That could get especially challenging on plays like Hail Marys, when plenty of holding and pushing is typically overlooked.

The preseason served as a trial period of sorts for coaches and players to figure out how the new rule would play out. Coaches are allowed to challenge pass interference like they are other calls, with two total challenges allowed per game — outside of the final two minutes in each half and during overtime, when it will become a booth-initiated review. There will be automatic booth reviews on touchdowns and turnovers.

This preseason, the Jets and Giants played in the first game when a pass interference call was overturned. Davis Webb threw a deep ball down the sideline to Tim White, who was played in coverage by Corey Ballentine. The ball fell incomplete, with no flags in sight, as Ballentine appeared in game speed to have strong coverage. But Jets coach Adam Gase threw a challenge flag, and after review, a 33-yard penalty was called because Ballentine had a hand on White’s wrist.

Through the first 49 preseason games, there were 48 replay reviews of pass interference calls or non-calls, according to ProFootballTalk. A total of six were overturned.

“I really do believe that we all want to get it right,” Giants coach Pat Shurmur said. “This is going to be talked about a great deal.”