Livescore
The Seahawks will play the 49ers in the NFL’s super wild-card weekend on Saturday — a point of consternation among several coaches and executives throughout the league.
ESPN reported the Rams and Lions both have expressed varying degrees of frustration after several notable calls and no-calls in Seattle’s Week 18 victory vs. Los Angeles. It also claimed the NFL’s competition committee has also been made aware of frustrations from both teams in what one a source told ESPN was “the worst officiated game of the year.”
Added another ESPN source: “The Lions should be livid. It was an awful way for them to end their season.”
Indeed, the Lions will watch the playoff from home this year, despite finishing 9-8, the same record as the 7-seed Seahawks. Seattle’s 19-16 win over the Rams kept Detroit out of the playoffs; a loss and ensuing Lions win over the Packers on “Sunday Night Football” would have resulted in Detroit earning the 7-seed. The Seahawks and Lions’ win instead gave Seattle the playoff berth.
MORE: Seahawks vs. 49ers weather updates– Heavy rain in Santa Clara forecast for NFL playoff game
Several calls and no-calls have reportedly come under fire from the game. Those include a running into the kicker penalty on Rams defensive end Jonah Williams, which occurred roughly midway through the fourth quarter. The official who threw the flag did not see he had been blocked into punter Michael Dickson.
That allowed Seattle’s drive to continue, and it ultimately used the penalty to kick a field goal and tie the game at 16-16, the final score in regulation before advancing to overtime.
Later in the fourth quarter, Rams cornerback Jalen Ramsey was called for unnecessary roughness on quarterback Geno Smith, giving Seattle 15 extra yards in an attempt to kick a game-winning field goal. Officials did not notice receive DK Metcalf shoving Ramsey’s facemask, which should have negated the prior penalty:
DK Metcalf and Jalen Ramsey with an exchange after the play. pic.twitter.com/bD2FCl9yhi
— FOX Sports: NFL (@NFLonFOX) January 9, 2023
The Seahawks ultimately missed the 48-yard field goal attempt, sending the game to overtime.
MORE: Who will 49ers or Seahawks play in 2023 divisional round with a win?
Officials also declined to penalize Smith for intentional grounding. Smith rolled right out of the pocket and threw a pass that landed behind the line of scrimmage, at Seattle’s own 23. Tight end Noah Fant was the nearest receiver, at the 35.
Seattle ultimately punted after the three-and-out, sending the ball back to the Rams at their own 26-yard line. Two plays later, Seattle’s Quandre Diggs intercepted a Baker Mayfield pass. Diggs could be seen pointing at former linebacker Bobby Wagner on the sideline — a potential penalty for taunting. Again, officials declined to call it:
Intercepted by Quandre Diggs!
📺: #LARvsSEA on FOX
📱: Stream on NFL+ https://t.co/KpypRSpABD pic.twitter.com/jHEXh9505I— NFL (@NFL) January 9, 2023
Seattle took over at its own 36 — as opposed to its own 21 — and, eight plays later, kicked a 32-yard field goal to win 19-16 in overtime and advance to the playoffs (following Detroit’s win over Green Bay).
Perhaps adding insult to injury, both Diggs and Metcalf were fined Saturday for their respective actions in the game.
The NFL fined #Seahawks S Quandre Diggs $10,609 for unsportsmanlike conduct — pointing at the #Rams’ sideline after his overtime interception in last week’s victory. No flag was thrown. pic.twitter.com/s5fiaIMucr
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) January 14, 2023
#Seahawks WR DK Metcalf was fined $21,219 for unsportsmanlike conduct in his exchange with #Rams CB Jalen Ramsey late in Seattle’s comeback win last Sunday.
Ramsey was not fined. https://t.co/TQ8bJOPdgq— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) January 14, 2023
Whether the Seahawks can make the most of their opportunity in the playoffs remains to be seen, though it’s clear from reports that neither the Rams nor the Lions will be rooting for the away team on Saturday following the controversial Week 18 finish.
Read the full article here
