Monday night mistake
Blown call on batted ball saves Seahawks and adds to prime-time officiating fiascoes.
With one big punch, Kam Chancellor showed his importance to the Seattle Seahawks.
With one little touch, K.J. Wright provided another Monday night controversy in the same end zone where the infamous “Fail Mary” took place.
“Now that you look at it, we we’re fortunate,” Seattle coach Pete Carroll said.
Chancellor knocked the ball free from Detroit wide receiver Calvin Johnson at the 1-yard line when it appeared the Lions were going to take the lead, and Seattle held on for a 13-10 win.
With Detroit on the verge of capping a 91-yard drive with the go-ahead touchdown with less than 2 minutes remaining, Chancellor came from the side and punched the ball from Johnson’s arm as he was being tackled by Earl Thomas. It bounded into the end zone where it was guided over the back line by Wright for a touchback. But Wright should have been called for an illegal bat for hitting the ball out of the end zone, NFL VP of Officiating Dean Blandino told NFL Network. The penalty would have given the ball back to Detroit at the Seattle 1.
“The back judge was on the play and in his judgment he didn’t feel it was an overt act so he didn’t throw the flag,” Blandino said. “In looking at the replays it looked like a bat so the enforcement would be basically we would go back to the spot of the fumble and Detroit would keep the football.”
Wright said he did not know the rule and was purposely guiding the ball over the end line.
“That was definitely the thought process just to get the ball out of bounds,” Wright said.
It provided another memorable Monday night moment in Seattle. It was three years ago when replacement officials credited Golden Tate with a disputed touchdown reception on the final play in nearly the same spot to beat Green Bay.
“What can you do? You’re not going to cry about it that’s for sure,” said Detroit coach Jim Caldwell, who spoke with Blandino on Tuesday but would not go into detail about that conversation.
Caldwell also said defensive tackle Tyrunn Walker is out for the season with a dislocated ankle and broken leg. An MRI of tight end Eric Ebron’s inured knee showed no structural damage, according to reports.
Colts: Andrew Luck is rested, ready and eager to play Thursday night at Houston. Whether he’s healthy enough to dress may not be settled until shortly before kickoff.
Two days after missing his first professional game, the Colts quarterback stayed out of the view of reporters during Tuesday’s practice and was again listed as a limited participant and day to day with an injured right shoulder.
“I think I’ve gotten better every day,” Luck said. “I don’t think I’m necessarily where I would want to be today in a perfect, perfect world, but I’m getting better every day.”
Eagles: Left tackle Jason Peters, right tackle Lane Johnson and left guard Allen Barbre didn’t practice, along with three starters on defense.
Peters has a quad injury, Johnson has a knee sprain and Barbre’s injury is unknown. Linebackers Mychal Kendricks and Kiko Alonso (knee), cornerback Byron Maxwell (quad) and reserve defensive lineman Brandon Bair (groin) also sat out.
Bears: Center Will Montgomery will miss the remainder of the season because of a broken left fibula. The team placed Montgomery on injured reserve Tuesday.
Falcons: Placed wide receiver and return specialist Devin Hester on injured reserve-designated to return with a turf toe injury. Hester, who has not played this season because of the injury, will be eligible to return at Tampa Bay on Dec. 6.
Bills: Signed free-agent running back Dan Herron to address an injury-depleted backfield that could be down yet another player. Rookie Karlos Williams’ status is uncertain after he sustained a concussion in a 24-10 loss to the Giants.
Vikings: Traded linebacker Gerald Hodges to the 49ers for rookie center Nick Easton and a sixth-round draft pick.