Seahawks-Rams game fallout draws criticism from officials

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Did football fans witness the ‘worst refereed game of the year’ last week? That’s what a source told ESPN’s Adam Schefter following the Seattle Seahawks’ 19-16 win over the Rams last Sunday. A Seattle field goal tied the game in the fourth quarter, and another field goal won it for the Seahawks in overtime, which under normal circumstances would go down in history as a thrilling game.

As ESPN’s coverage of the game reveals, these were not normal circumstances.

Schefter’s report cites “several executives and coaches” as criticizing the officiating displayed in the game and stating that they hoped the game would lead to better officiating training choices in future seasons. Since Seattle’s win in that game also knocked the Lions out of the playoffs, the repercussions of various calls are being felt by teams other than the two that competed last Sunday.

Among the questionable calls? A first down awarded after the collision between Jonah Williams of the Rams and Seahawks punter Michael Dickson. There is, shall we say, some debate as to whether this deserved a “roughing it” designation.

It’s not yet clear whether the frustration over that call and the broader issues cited in the ESPN report will lead to lasting change. But in this case, it looks like the frustration levels are definitely going up.

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