The Detroit Lions are officially eliminated from postseason contention before they kick off on Sunday night against the Green Bay Packers. The Seattle Seahawks defeated the Los Angeles Rams, 19-16, in overtime to mathematically eliminate Detroit.
It was a game rife with officiating controversy, all of which benefited the host Seahawks.
There were two pivotal calls that directly aided the Seahawks and crushed the Rams. The first was a running into the kicker foul on a Seahawks punt where the Rams player was thrown into punter Michael Dickson.
Later on that drive, Seahawks QB Geno Smith ran into Rams DB Jalen Ramsey on the sideline, initiating contact that somehow earned Ramsey a penalty for unnecessary roughness. The ball didn’t lie; Seattle’s potential game-winning field goal doinked off the upright.
Then came overtime and two more very questionable officiating decisions. Smith threw away a pass while still (maybe) in the pocket that did not reach the line of scrimmage and was at least 10 yards from the nearest receiver. It was deemed not to be intentional grounding. Then former Lions safety Quandre Diggs got away with a taunting gesture after his interception of Rams QB Baker Mayfield on what would be Los Angeles’ final offensive play of the season.
The Seahawks drove into field goal range, and Jason Myers nailed the 32-yarder that ended the game and the Lions’ playoff chances.
