Fansided

Worst call against each NFL team in their history

By Mike Phillips

ARLINGTON, TEXAS - DECEMBER 29: Referee Craig Wrolstad #4 reviews a play during a game between the Washington Redskins and the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium on December 29, 2019 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Richard Rodriguez/Getty Images)
ARLINGTON, TEXAS - DECEMBER 29: Referee Craig Wrolstad #4 reviews a play during a game between the Washington Redskins and the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium on December 29, 2019 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Richard Rodriguez/Getty Images) /
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PASADENA, CA- JANUARY 9: Dave Casper No. 87 of the Oakland Raiders runs with the ball against the Minnesota Vikings during Super Bowl XI on January 9, 1977, at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California. The Raiders won the Super Bowl 32 -14. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images)
PASADENA, CA- JANUARY 9: Dave Casper No. 87 of the Oakland Raiders runs with the ball against the Minnesota Vikings during Super Bowl XI on January 9, 1977, at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California. The Raiders won the Super Bowl 32 -14. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images) /

Los Angeles Chargers: The Holy Roller

If a play gets its own name and leads to a rule change you know the refs messed up badly. That happened to the Chargers in 1980 when they were clinging to a late lead against the Raiders in Week 2. A wild sequence in the final seconds saw Dave Casper fumble the ball forward from the eight-yard line into the end zone, where he fell on it for the game-winning touchdown. The NFL made it illegal to fumble forward on goal-to-go situations in the future, but that was too late for Chargers’ coach Tommy Prothro, who was fired a few weeks after this loss.

Los Angeles Rams: The NFL mandating the 1949 title game be played in a driving rainstorm

This is a bit similar to what happened to the Cardinals in 1948 when they were forced to play for a title in a blizzard to satisfy a TV commitment. The Rams were hosting the Eagles and the forecast, which called for a sunny Los Angeles day, was completely inaccurate as a torrential downpour hit the area. Both teams petitioned the league to move the game back a week but commissioner Bert Bell declined, citing radio commitments. The game was played on a really muddy track and the Rams ended up losing 14-0.

Miami Dolphins: The Snow Plow Game

We’ll stick with the weather theme here as the Dolphins played a snowy game in Foxboro in December of 1982 against the Patriots. With the score tied and New England driving late in the fourth quarter, Patriots’ coach Ron Meyer took advantage of a lull in the action to convince one of the snowplow drivers to take a more circuitous route across the field. The plows were supposed to clear the ten-yard markers but officials watched as one plow, driven by convicted burglar Mark Henderson, went rogue and cleared a path for the Patriots to line up for a field goal. The kick sailed through and the Dolphins lost 3-0.

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