The Los Angeles Chargers may have won their Wild Card game on Sunday, but Russell Okung was a bit peeved about a call that transpired along the way.
With less than two minutes left in the contest and the Chargers up 23-17 over the Baltimore Ravens, running back Melvin Gordon picked up a game-sealing first down on a 3rd and 6 but had it negated by a holding penalty on Okung.
Here’s the holding penalty on Okung pic.twitter.com/CyrlgA6b9I
— Cameron DaSilva (@camdasilva) January 6, 2019
While it appeared to be an obvious hold on the two-time Pro Bowl left tackle, many on Twitter did not agree with the call:
This is one of the worst single-game officiating jobs I've ever seen. They should be embarrassed. And held accountable. Pathetic holding call.
— Nick Kostos (@TheKostos) January 6, 2019
That holding call was as bad as the touchdown they gave Houston.
— Eric Ebron (@Ebron85) January 6, 2019
Horrendous holding call.
— Adam Schein (@AdamSchein) January 6, 2019
The penalty ultimately did not matter in the grand scheme of things however, as the Chargers, though they were forced to punt on fourth down, clinched the victory a few plays later on an Uchenna Nwosu strip sack of Ravens QB Lamar Jackson. Nevertheless, Okung was still upset after the game and took a shot at commissioner Roger Goodell over the call, per Eric Williams of ESPN.
Chargers OT Russell Okung on the holding call late in the game on a running play team that would have sealed the game: “Roger Goodell doesn’t want us to come home.”
— Eric Williams (@eric_d_williams) January 6, 2019
The context here seems to be that the Chargers, who continue to struggle with attendance in their second season in LA despite going 12-4, have a semi-viable path to hosting the AFC title game. It can happen if the No. 5-seeded Bolts upset the No. 2-seeded New England Patriots next week and the No. 6-seeded Indianapolis Colts do the same with the top-seeded Kansas City Chiefs.
As for Okung, his wallet may be getting a little lighter after that remark, but it’s safe to say that he’s had something of a bone to pick with Goodell lately.
