Vikings-Rams ‘Thursday Night Football’ game ends with blatant missed face-mask penalty

The Vikings were understandably unhappy after the refs effectively ended the game for the Rams. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

The Los Angeles Rams’ final blow in a 30-20 win over the Minnesota Vikings on Thursday had a rather obvious missed call.

Down 10 points with 1:46 left and no timeouts, the Vikings had to travel 95 yards and make a two-point conversion just to send the game to overtime. They did not get very far, as Rams linebacker Byron Young beat two blockers to sack Sam Darnold and score a safety.

However, it was pretty clear just watching the play that Young had taken Darnold down by grabbing and yanking his face mask, which should have provided new life for the Vikings with a 15-yard penalty.

Further replay only cemented how bad of a missed call this was. Darnold’s head was pulled 90 degrees to the left as he was taken down:

Unfortunately, missed face-mask penalties are not reviewable.

The penalty was so obvious that Young grabbed his head after the play as if he had made a mistake, rather than seal the game for Los Angeles. The Rams instead received two points and the ball, kneeling out the clock to end what had been a rare competitive “Thursday Night Football” game.

The Vikings’ players and coaches were visibly unhappy as the replay was shown, and some NFL players watching weren’t thrilled either:

Can’t see a facemask 3 feet in front of them, but we want refs to decide what is and isn’t a “hip drop” tackle in real time.

😂😂

— JJ Watt (@JJWatt) October 25, 2024

No point in having replay if you’re not using it to correct obvious mistakes

— Mal (@jamalagnew) October 25, 2024

NFL should be ashamed the refs are terrible every week smh

— Kareem Jackson (@ReemBoi25) October 25, 2024

They can review almost everything else but not a game ending face mask call?

Wild.

— Reid Ferguson (@SnapFlow69) October 25, 2024

It should be noted this play didn’t cost the Vikings the game, just the chance at making it a game again. Even if the face mask was called,…

Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/vikings-rams-thursday-night-football-game-ends-with-blatant-missed-face-mask-penalty-032851764.html

Author : Yahoo Sports

Publish date : 2024-10-25 03:28:51

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