A historic drop in penalty kicks helped to lessen the spotlight on NFL refereeing in 2020. The same happened with the abolition of the replay review for pass interference. But the arrival of post-season football has increased scrutiny over all questionable decisions, rule interpretation and review.
Do not worry. We are here to help you. What follows is a real-time analysis of the calls you shook your head over, shouted at the television on, or were confused during the wild card round. The most recent moves are at the top.
Rams RB Cam Akers fumble reversed
Rams-Seahawks wild-card game, 46 seconds remaining in first half
What happened: Officials determined that the Seahawks’ defensive side, Carlos Dunlap, took the ball from Akers after a 3-yard run. The recovery from the fumble was credited to Seahawks cornerback Ryan Neal, giving Seattle the ball on the Rams’ 26-yard line.
How it was resolved: The call was reversed in the reproduction review. The NFL decided that Akers was knocked down by contact before fumbling, and the Rams retained possession.
Analyze: The league ended up getting it right, but, like many other calls we saw during the wild card weekend, it was hard to believe that officials of the NFL caliber would consider this move a fumble. Akers was lying on his back, with the ball tightly in his arm, when Dunlap first tried to get the ball out. At least one officer initially took down Akers, but he was rejected. It is always possible that the views have been blocked and sometimes, in case of doubt, the officials determine a rotation to ensure that it can be judged correctly in the replay through automatic review.
But in this case, the replay could have reviewed the play independently, because there were less than two minutes to go. It was the type of decision that erodes confidence in the company’s overall competence.
Officials raise flag when they hit Rams QB’s head
Wild card game of Rams-Seahawks, 5:40 left in first quarter
What happened: When Rams quarterback John Wolford dived to the ground after a two-yard run, Seahawks’ safety Jamal Adams lowered his right shoulder and hit Wolford in the head. The authorities initially launched a flag against Adams. Wolford left the game and was replaced by Jared Goff.
How it was resolved: Referee John Hussey announced that there would be no penalty because Wolford was considered a runner and therefore was not subject to the protections normally given to defenders.
Analyze: It is true that Wolford would not have quarterback protection in this play, but the original flag was still deserved. It is still an unnecessary rough foul, according to the NFL rulebook, because Wolford was diving into the ground and therefore giving himself up. This means that he is classified as a helpless player and opponents are prohibited from hitting these players head or neck hard. It was the second consecutive year that the Seahawks took a full-back defender from a playoff game with a blow to the head. In this case, Jadeveon Clowney’s strike on the Eagles’ quarterback, Carson Wentz, was considered incidental and not compelling. Wolford, however, was taken to the hospital for precautionary measures, according to a spokesman for Rams.
How was it not a Colts disaster?
Colts-Bills wild game, 50 seconds remaining in fourth period
What happened: On the fourth and 10th in the final possession of the game by the Colts, receiver Zach Pascal was credited with a 17-yard reception and fell on the Bill’s 46-yard line. Pascal got up and fumbled, which was recovered by the Bills in what would have been a decisive move. Field officials, however, decided that Pascal fell by contact after an initial fall.
How it was resolved: Bills coach Sean McDermott asked for a timeout as the Colts rushed to the line of action, but he was unable to challenge because it was less than 2 minutes before the end of the game. During the timeout, NFL senior vice president of arbitration, Al Riveron, analyzed the call. It was not clear whether his criticism interrupted the game or if it was McDermott’s timeout. Even so, referee Brad Allen announced that the decision would be upheld without further explanation.
Analyze: O NFL said on Twitter that there was no clear and obvious evidence available to overturn the decision, and there was no requested pool report in Buffalo to explain it further. Because the replays seemed to confirm that Pascal was not contacted before getting up, and that he was not down when he lost possession of the ball. We will update this post if the NFL or Riveron offer further explanations. But for all the evidence available at the time, the accounts should have been taken over. If the Colts had come back to draw or win the game – Bills won 27-24 – this decision would have been scrutinized.
Inside #INDvsBUF, the decision in the field is that the runner fell by contact. There was no clear and obvious visual evidence to overturn the decision, so it stands. pic.twitter.com/1QmUW2Sjcj
– NFL Officiating (@NFLOfficiating) January 9, 2021
The clock runs after fumble out of bounds
Colts-Bills wild game, 26 seconds remaining in fourth period
What happened: The game clock kept running after the Colts’ receiver, Michael Pittman Jr., struggled out of the field.
How it was resolved: The clock did not stop.
Analyze: This move caused quite a stir on social media, but it was a proper game management. An off-field fumble is not the same as a player leaving the field. According to the NFL rulebook: “If a fumble or pass by any player leaves the field, the game clock starts at the referee’s signal that the ball has been returned to the field of play.”
Accounts credited with two side captures
Colts-Bills wild game, less than 2 minutes, second half
What happened: The bill receiver, Gabriel Davis, was credited with 37 and 19 yard side receptions. In both cases, frame-by-frame replays showed that he may not have dropped both feet over the edge.
How it was resolved: With less than 2 minutes remaining, the NFL replay officer instituted reviews of both plays. In each case, referee Brad Allen only announced that the original decision was valid. Allen did not explain why there was an officer hat on the floor when Davis made the first capture; this often means that a player or players have gone out of bounds and are no longer an eligible recipient.
An outrageous touch by Gabriel Davis 😳 @ DavisGB1 @BuffaloBills
📺 #INDvsBUF at CBS pic.twitter.com/JPb0PYq5SO
– The Checkdown (@thecheckdown) January 9, 2021
Analyze: You could make a frame-by-frame judgment that Davis’s left foot touched the white part of the sideline after the first capture. The same goes for the second reception, where he may not have performed a full drag before leaving the limits. But the NFL’s replay system requires a much higher standard than “it could”. It must be “clear and obvious”, preferably in live action, that Davis had gone off limits before gaining possession. If the decision in the field had been incomplete, the review system would probably have supported it as well.