The 5 necessary questions after a piece of paper decided a 1st down

Sunday night's contest between the Oakland Raiders and Dallas Cowboys was moving along without incident until one of the weirdest scenes in recent memory occurred during the fourth quarter.

The Cowboys looked to pick up a crucial third-down conversion by Jason Witten, only to have it overturned upon review. That moved the ball back half a yard and left a short 4th down. Dak Prescott's quarterback sneak was too close to call, which led to this wild scene that saw official Gene Steratore decide the play using a piece of paper.

Naturally, the scene brings about some obvious questions:

1. What is the piece of paper actually telling us in the measurement?

The most logical explanation is that the nose of the football touching the paper would mean a first down has occurred. The only problem with that logic is that the paper doesn't actually appear to touch the football.

2. Why is the paper folded?

Folding the piece of paper would double its width, right? That would likely jeopardize the integrity of this highly precise form of measurement.

3. Is this piece of paper now accepted as official NFL decision-making material?

When officials are given their uniforms, rule books, and gear at the start of the season, do they also get a package full of paper to use in emergencies such as this one?

4. How was Steratore able to stifle his laughter throughout the process?

It's fairly clear from the beginning that Steratore is on the verge of uncontrollable laughter due to how absurd this whole scene was. Like the true professional he is, the veteran official is able to refrain from laughing while executing the job.

5. Why is a league that will hit $14 billion in revenue this year still measuring 1st downs with two sticks held together by a chain?

The video review system is a multi-million dollar practice but the final decision is made using the same method the NFL has employed since the dawn of the sport.