The NFL referees and booth missed a blatant pass interference committed by the San Francisco 49ers at the end of the Niners’ 26-21 win over Seattle on Sunday night to clinch the NFC West.
The Seahawks had a 3rd-and-goal from the six with 15 seconds left, needing a touchdown to take the lead and win the division. Russell Wilson looked to Jacob Hollister but passed incomplete. Hollister couldn’t believe there was no penalty flag thrown since he was so obviously held by Fred Warner.
— Viral Sports (@NotScTop10plays) December 30, 2019
Even though the referees on the field missed the defensive holding/pass interference, there was a chance for the booth to review the play.
“He’s clearly got him grabbed, significantly hindering the receiver. This should be a booth review. I’m surprised they have not stopped the game,” said NBC rules analyst Terry McAulay.
Despite McAulay believing the league should have stepped in, nobody did, and the game went to fourth down. Wilson threw to Hollister again, who came up just short of the goal line.
Many pointed out that the NFL instituted the new rule over the offseason so that the league could step in and overturn badly missed calls, such as this one, and the one that hurt the Saints last season.
The 49ers committed obvious, blatant pass interference that the officials missed — exactly the kind of missed call that instant replay review of pass interference was supposed to prevent — and the booth never signaled for it to be reviewed.
— Michael David Smith (@MichaelDavSmith) December 30, 2019
That play, in that spot, is exactly why the NFL changed the rule. And they didn’t even look at it.
— Gregg Rosenthal (@greggrosenthal) December 30, 2019
I think we got our answer on whether or not obvious a pass Interference penalties would be overturned in the playoffs. No. Where was the NFL office on that 3rd down play?
— Tony Dungy (@TonyDungy) December 30, 2019
Yet again, the Saints were screwed by a missed pass interference call. Because the 49ers won, New Orleans got pushed down to the three seed. They would have been the two seed if Seattle won. Seattle also now drops to the five seed and will visit the Eagles in the wild-card round.
