Seattle Seahawks: 4 Takeaways from 20-10 loss to L.A. Rams
4. The Officiating Was Pretty Bad
It was a rough few days for NFL officiating. There was the atrocious call in Monday night’s Bears-Packers matchup that changed the momentum of that game. The downward trend continued into Tuesday’s contest. Shawn Hochuli’s crew struggled all night with questionable flags, and their issues came to a head in the fourth quarter.
To start the quarter, Bless Austin drew a flag for holding Kupp on a third and 12. Austin made contact with the receiver within five yards, which he is allowed to do, but he never grabbed the jersey. Instead of a three-and-out with the Rams punting from inside their 20, L.A. got new life and drove downfield for a go-ahead touchdown.
That was a terrible holding call on Seahawks CB Blessuan Austin. Refs are making too many bad calls that drastically change momentum.
— Tyler Dragon (@TheTylerDragon) December 22, 2021
Bad to worse
Trailing by a touchdown with just over four minutes to go, the Seahawks had a third-and-on at L.A.’s 45-yard line. First came a phantom false start called on Rashaad Penny to make it third and six. Two plays later, there was an egregious non-call that may have changed the outcome. All game long, the zebras called ticky-tack penalties, and then maybe the most obvious foul of the night was ignored.
With Seattle’s clogged toilet of an offense, who knows what would have happened, but short of hiring someone to club his knee, Rams linebackers Ernest Jones could not have more blatantly interfered with DeeJay Dallas. The irate Seahawks running back immediately lost his mind when there was no flag on the play and was penalized for kicking the ball in frustration. It could also be argued that Metcalf was interfered with on Seattle’s final offensive play.
Fox Sports rules analyst and former NFL Vice President of officiating Dean Blandino seemed baffled by this crew all game and disagreed with many of the calls (and non-calls). I’m sure the Seahawks will find great solace when the NFL acknowledges the missed call tomorrow.
This was ruled NOT a pass interference by the Rams 😱
Should this have been a PI awarded to the Seahawks? 🤔pic.twitter.com/wz2XnK0zqB
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) December 22, 2021
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