Why the flag wasn’t thrown
So another year, another big missed call, and it happens to the poor Lions again, of all teams. Every body was up in arms about it. OH IT HAPPENED IN THE SAME ENDZONE AS THE FAIL MARY (who gives a shit) OH THIS IS AN OUTRAGE BLAH BLAH BLAH. Yeah, the Lions got screwed. I’m guessing the back judge just either forgot the rule or wasn’t actually looking at what happened and missed it because he was distracted by the fumble itself, then covered his ass by saying he didn’t think it was egregious enough (it’s obviously a violation of the rule). It probably cost the Lions the win, or at least a much higher chance at the win. It happens. As funny as it would have been to see Seattle lose that game the Lions didn’t really deserve to win it either. Both teams looked terrible. The Lions look like a mess. I’m still unable to tell if Seattle is even a good team. They lost to the Rams (Fisher brings the heat for divisional games), the Packers (top NFC team), then took an entire half to put up points on a Jimmy Clausen led Bears tire fire of a team, and then needed a miracle play by Kam Chancellor and an unobservant ref to save their own butts at home, against the currently only winless team in the entire league. I’d be really nervous if I was a Hawks fan.
As a side note, I don’t think any of the rules need to be changed. If anything, I think batting the ball should be legal. It’s not like batting the ball will be an effective tool now, footballs are so erratic that batting it won’t mean anything, and might add some fun chaos. I have no issue with the “out of the endzone, touchback” rule. Don’t lose the football on the most vital part of the field. This game was just a crappy slugfest that ended on a sour note. I did notice that nobody seemed to notice the penalty when it happened, either. For all the grief the ref got, none of the announcers or social media seemed to notice it till well after the play happened. Hindsight is 20/20 but considering how many people missed it when it happened, the ref should get some relief.
I have to admit, I didn’t even know it was a penalty to begin with. That being said, I agree 100% that both teams looked awful and that neither team really deserved a win. I think the Graham for Unger trade will haunt this team for years to come.
Yea I honestly thought it was a heads up play by KJ Wright at the time.
I knew he wasn’t supposed to bat it out, though I didn’t know what the penalty was. But I think the rule should be if you fumble and it isn’t recovered by the other team, it should remain your ball. (Which is the rule everywhere else on the field, except the end zone.)
Refs are humans. They’re prone to make mistakes. It’s part of life. Until we get robo refs, these kind of things will keep happening.
Of course, when a human makes mistakes this costly in another profession he gets fired…
Not unless they have a history of doing it. Unless they work for a really shit company.
That would explain how Arriva North East keep the Durham to Hartlepool/Sunderland contracts despite their constant, consistent, often comedic lateness. I mean, it’s not like anyone has to get to work or anythOH WAIT.
I didn’t know the rule. You didn’t know the rule. The announcers didn’t know the rule. The players didn’t know the rule. But you know who SHOULD know the rule? The guys who are paid to officiate and preside over the game. It’s time the NFL made its officials full time employees. I know the referees union has been resistant to the idea in the past, but the NFL needs to put its foot down. The league’s officiating has been in the public crosshairs for the past few years after repeated high profile mistakes. If Roger Goodell wants to legitimately look like he cares about protecting, “the integrity of The Shield,” changes have to be made.
I thought it was the league that didn’t want full time refs. They are already getting paid $200K+ for a part time job, how much will they want if they are full time?
I knew the rule, but when it wasnt called I just assumed I had it wrong or it had been changed (vaguely recall Ahmad Bradshaw getting penalised for batting the ball on a fumble a few years back). Regardless, in common sense terms, it feels to me like giving the Lions the ball back there would have caused as much outrage. The ball was going out, the Hawks player could have grabbed it and taken a knee, he didnt really affect the outcome, just how the outcome was reached. If the Hawks lose that game after the brilliance of Kam Chancellor over such a minor issue, people would be just as pissed at how they were robbed and the rule isn’t necessary. Pretty much a lose-lose situation PR-wise.
Seahawks fan here. I don’t know that I’d say nervous, but I definitely do not see a deep playoff run at this point. I think that the team will sneak into the playoffs with a wildcard spot or a 10/11 win division title, no bye though.
The offensive line play is atrocious. I know that the trend these days is to point out that good offensive line talent is not coming out of college ball, and yeah, that’s true, there’s a lack of good o-line units in the NFL, but the Seahawks line… It’s like it’s not even there half the time. There were multiple plays Monday night where there was never a pocket to begin with. If a team has a half decent pass rush it’s open season on Russell Wilson.
I think that the defense is still good, perhaps not the best unit anymore, but still well above average, and that will help the team to a winning record. Still though, unless the offensive line suddenly starts to provide a little protection, this team isn’t making a strong playoff run.
The defense is great, Wilson is great, Lynch is great, the recievers are decent, the O-line is HORRIBLE!!! If it weren’t for them, the Seahawks would have blown the Lions’ doors off and sent them back to Detroit knowing who their betters are. Instead, they very nearly wasted all of Russell Wilson’s heroic efforts by nullifying almost every good play he made by getting him sacked immediately afterward.
I was anticipating a higher level of humor for comic #420
Gotta disagree with Dave. I think the rule is moronic and should be changed. Why on Earth should Seattle be given possession of the ball when the last team to have control of it was Detroit?
I agree with Dave. A bigger reward should come with a bigger risk. The only rule that needs to be changed is that penalties are not reviewable.
Dave is the king of highbrow humor
I’m not sure if the “lot’s o cheese” was specifically added to make a munchies joke for the 420th post or not…