Refs Steal Game From Packers/McCarthy Gives Game To Seahawks

I will start with the atrocious officiating that cost the Packers the game tonight, and then show how Mike McCarthy still doesn’t understand winning strategy, as he also cost the Packers the game.

Regarding the officiating, the Packers intercepted on the last play of the game to win 12-7.  However, the refs said Golden Tate, the Seattle receiver, caught the ball and gave them the “winning” touchdown.  While the ball was in the air and about to get to him, Tate pushed Sam Shields, Packer DB, in the back with two hands to knock him down and get separation.  This was done in the open field in full view of the side judge at the goal line, and was blatant offensive pass interference.  After the push, Jennings, Packer DB, intercepted the ball, and Tate then put an arm around the ball that Jennings had against his chest.  It was not even close to simultaneous possession, but a clear interception.  The side judge who didn’t call the blatant offensive interference then came over and signaled touchdown, while the back judge signaled stop the clock, which a former NFL ref said probably meant touchback.  The play was reviewed, and the touchdown was upheld.  More on this later, as I will first talk about the other bad calls.

The Seahawks got their other touchdown due to a 15-yard personal foul penalty on the Packers.  The Packer did retaliate and deserved the penalty, but the refs missed the Seattle personal foul that was in the open field that caused the retaliation, and this penalty played a major role in the Seahawk touchdown.  Had both penalties correctly been called, instead of giving the Seahawks 15 yards, the Seahawks probably don’t score, as they didn’t do much offensively all game.

After the Packers scored to go up 12-7, with 8:44 to play, the Packers intercepted the ball at the Seattle 26.  Since Seattle was doing nothing offensively, a score here for the Packers would have been huge.  The play was nullified by a terrible roughing-the-passer call, which not only didn’t give the Packers the ball, but kept the Seattle drive alive.  That penalty gave Seattle their first first down of the second half, so their offense was going nowhere.  The ESPN announcers said that when they asked Russell Wilson, the Seahawk QB, after the game if it was a good call, he just rolled his eyes, knowing it was a bad call.

On the same drive, with first-and-25 at the Seattle 43, Seattle threw a long pass and the receiver should have been called for offensive pass interference.  This should have made it first and 35 from the Seattle 33 for a team going nowhere offensively, but they called defensive pass interference, which the announcers admitted was a terrible call.  Instead of the drive almost definitely being stopped, the Seahawks got a first down at the Packer 25.  Trent Dilfer said that the announcers (including him) “were 10 yards away from the play, and it wasn’t close to being interference.”

These terrible calls on the Seattle drive not only prevented the Packers from probably putting the game away after the interception which was one play after their touchdown, but allowed the Seahawks to drive to the Packer 7.  Once the Packers punted, it put Seattle in position to throw a Hail Mary pass, since they got the ball back at the Packer 46.

These calls all contributed to the Packers “losing” the game, with the final call being so ridiculous it will go down in NFL history as a joke.  Before I get to McCarthy’s contributions, I will mention some of the things said on the ESPN postgame show.

1. The announcers read the rule many times to state why the Packers won.  All three announcers said they were 15 yards away from the play and couldn’t believe it when they called the play a touchdown, as it was so obvious an interception.
2. Gerry Austin, a former NFL ref for 27 years, said Jennings caught the ball and it was an interception.
3. Trent Dilfer said the situation is an insult to our intelligence.  The announcer also said this tears at the fabric of the game and the integrity of the league is at stake.
4. One of the announcers said it was “an embarrassing ending that cost the Packers the win.”
5. One of the announcers said someone tweeted that this is the first time in NFL history a QB threw a game-winning interception.
6. An announcer said this call could have a significant impact on playoff positions down the road, as it impacts the playoff races in two divisions and one conference.
7. John Clayton said the ref looked lost coming out of the replay booth.
8. Trent Dilfer said “the NFL is screwing up the brand.”
9. Chris Mortensen said the call cost the Packers the game.
10. Adam Schefter said an NFL coach told him that call “was a joke and the officials gave the home team the game.”  He also said a league official told him all scoring plays should be reviewed at NFL headquarters as they do in hockey.”  He then said this call “causes this season to have an asterisk by it.”

I believe the Packers should consider protesting the game, as perhaps this was not a judgment call, but a misinterpretation of the rules regarding who has possession.

I do not know if this is true, but Rodgers said after the game he was pretty sure they gave him a kicking ball to throw on the failed two-point conversion.  If that is the case and it contributed to them not converting, that action by the refs also cost them the game, because the last “touchdown” would have only tied the game.

Here is what Stephen A. Smith of ESPN said on his Twitter page on multiple posts:  “What a horrible, horrible roughing-the-passer call on Green Bay to continue that Seattle drive.  This is so bad it can’t be put into words.  Just a complete unmitigated disaster.  Just horrible.  That’s it.  I’m done.  CLEARLY AN INTERCEPTION.  JUST DISGRACEFUL.  ABSOLUTE ROBBERY IN THE NFL.  The league has thrown away its integrity.  Golden Tate with a blatant pass interference on Sam Shields.  Then Jennings had the ball, brings it to his chest.  All Tate has on ball is arm.  Horrible!  Just horrible.  If I’m the Packers, I would refuse to go back out on the field to be there for an extra point.  I just wouldn’t do it.  If the NFL wants to maintain any credibility whatsoever, it should OVERTURN this decision IMMEDIATELY.  The game should be awarded to Green Bay.”

Now, to McCarthy:

1.  On the two-point conversion, McCarthy called a low-percentage pass when a much higher-percentage pass would have been a better call.  This was a key play, because converting would have pretty much guaranteed no worse than a tie in regulation.

2.  On the last drive, McCarthy continually rushed three men, which gave Wilson time to complete a key 22-yard pass to the Packer 24 and to throw the Hail Mary.  The three-man rush continues to backfire for the Packers and cost them the Giant playoff game last year, but McCarthy continues to do it.

3.  The Packers got the ball inside their 10 with under 2:00 to play.  If they got a first down, they would win the game, but if they didn’t get a first down, they would have to punt and the Seahawks would have almost a minute to try to score the winning touchdown with good field position.  I said to throw a safe screen pass on second and third down to get the first down, since the Seahawks were playing the run.  I also said it was too risky to put the game in the hands of the defense, which had played well, but would be facing a desperate team that would be passing.  McCarthy ran on all three downs and punted, giving the Seahawks the ball at the Packer 46 and allowing them the opportunity to try to win.