The Atlanta Falcons and Seattle Seahawks on Sunday played one of the better games we’ve seen in the NFL this season, but it didn’t come without a little bit of controversy.
While the ending wasn’t marred by a missed call to the extent of the “Fail Mary,” Sunday’s game between the NFC powers did have one seemingly brutal non-call in the final moments of the Seahawks’ eventual 26-24 win at CenturyLink Field.
The Falcons had no choice but to go for it on a desperation fourth down from near midfield, and Atlanta quarterback Matt Ryan found star receiver Julio Jones, who appeared to have a step on the Seattle secondary, namely cornerback Richard Sherman. The ball was underthrown by a hair, but Jones looked like he was going to have the advantage in a potential jump ball.
That didn’t happen, however, as it certainly looked like Sherman grabbed Jones and also held down the receiver’s arm while rising to break up the pass.
With no call on the play, the Falcons turned the ball over on downs, and Seattle was able to run out the clock. A pass interference call would have been crucial, as it would have moved Atlanta even closer to field goal range with the Falcons trailing by only two points.
Atlanta head coach Dan Quinn exploded on the sideline, looking for a call that never came. Jones also thought there should have been a call, but he was quick to refocus his attention moving forward.
“Before I took off, (Sherman)Â grabbed my right side and spun me around before I jumped up,” Jones told reporters after the game, per ESPN.com. “But it was just a missed call. It’s over with. It’s done. We’re on to the next right now.”
Weird things seem to happen late in games in Seattle. In addition to the aforementioned blown call during a game against the Green Bay Packers in 2012 (made by replacement referees during the officials’ strike), officials also blew a call late in a Monday night game last season between Seattle and the Detroit Lions.
Thumbnail photo via Joe Nicholson/USA TODAY Sports Images
