“They said they got it wrong.” Jim Caldwell revealed that he heard the refs tell him these exact words at halftime against the Seahawks.
The Seattle Seahawks hold a 10-6 lead over the Detroit Lions in their NFC Wild Card Round matchup. The Seahawks’ touchdown did not come without controversy, though. Wide receiver Paul Richardson made a spectacular catch in the end zone with one hand, however, it is becoming increasingly evident that he grabbed a Lions defender’s facemask.
The officials did not call a facemask penalty, though. This would have wiped out a touchdown and cost the Seahawks 15 yards. Lions head coach Jim Caldwell understandably questioned the refs on their no call. He claimed that the officials admitted they were wrong to not call a facemask.
Lions fans will definitely be outraged about this revelation. If the Seahawks come away with a close win, the controversy will only grow bigger. This game would be a 6-3 Lions lead if a facemask had been called. Sideline reporter Michelle Tafoya reported that she heard “They said they got it wrong” from Caldwell. It will be interesting to see whether the NFL will confirm that the wrong call was made.
This is not the first time the Seahawks have encountered officiating controversy. The most significant example is a 2012 Seahawks-Packers matchup. This controversial game ended with an apparent interception. The refs eventually awarded the Seahawks a game-winning touchdown.
Nonetheless, the Lions have struggled to generate significant offense against a tough Seahawks defense. The Seahawks defense remains fierce at home even without All-Pro safety Earl Thomas. However, their offense has also looked lifeless against a determined Lions defense.
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The Lions have held quarterback Russell Wilson to 73 yards as of the Seahawks’ last offensive drive. Running back Thomas Rawls has single-handedly carried the Seahawks offense. He has gained a whopping 119 yards on 19 carries with plenty of time remaining.