The New York Giants defeated the Washington Commanders 20-12 Sunday night in a critical NFC East battle that could weigh heavily on both team’s potential playoff hopes.
Yet, all anyone could talk about after the game was the officiating. The NFL world was shocked at the lack of a penalty on Washington’s final offensive play when wide receiver Curtis Samuel was mugged in the end zone before the ball arrived. The ball should’ve been placed at the one-yard line, where the Commanders would have four chances to punch it in.
The odds are Washington would have scored. Just two plays earlier, rookie running back Brian Robinson Jr. scored from one yard out, but the officials called an illegal formation penalty on Commanders wide receiver Terry McLaurin. The play wiped out the touchdown and pushed Washington back five yards.
That call didn’t receive the same type of attention as the non-call on the defensive pass interference because it wasn’t as obvious. However, McLaurin stated after the game that he asked the officials if he was lined up right, and the official told him to move up, which McLaurin did, and the official told him he was good.
Now, the video of the play has surfaced, backing up everything McLaurin said.
Terry McLaurin looks at the ref asking if he’s good – ref points back at McLaurin as of to indicate he’s good. McLaurin then gives a thumbs up to ref to acknowledge it. This “penalty” took a Brian Robinson TD off the board. Via @SNFonNBC pic.twitter.com/B86N6nsJsS
— Matthew Berry (@MatthewBerryTMR) December 19, 2022
Here’s another look, confirming step-by-step what McLaurin said about the officials giving him the nod.
Terry mclaurin asked the line judge twice for confirmation lmao how’s that his fault pic.twitter.com/Y4qlBZ7E4A
— John (@iam_johnw) December 19, 2022
Unfortunately, neither blown call changes anything. The Giants won, and Washington lost. And these same officials will be on the field in Week 16, blowing calls and costing other teams. It happens weekly to every NFL team, and nothing indicates change is on the horizon.
