Bone to pick!
Collins mad refs missed INT
ANOTHER game at MetLife Stadium, another controversial call in the end zone.
The Giants fell to the Seahawks 24-7 Sunday, but it was a play early in the fourth quarter that changed the entire complexion of the game.
With 9:57 remaining and Seattle leading 10-7, a strip-sack fumble of Eli Manning set the Seahawks up at the Giants’ 38-yard line when Russell Wilson ran a flea-flicker, tossing the ball to running back J.D. McKissic on his right, who threw the ball back to Wilson. The Seahawks quarterback then aired a jump-ball to receiver Paul Richardson in the end zone, who was covered by Landon Collins.
The two fought for possession of the ball until the officials ruled that they had simultaneous possession and, by rule, it was deemed a touchdown for the Seahawks, giving them a 17-7 lead.
The play was reviewed and it appeared that Collins may have pried the ball away before hitting the ground, and as the two fought for possession of the ball, Richardson’s foot touched out of bounds. The call on the field stood, however.
Head official Tony Corrente — the same official from last week’s heavily disputed Austin Seferian-Jenkins fumble during the Jets-Patriots game — explained after the game that the fighting on the ground did not matter.
“The receiver went into the air, had control of the ball, lost control, re-grasped the ball and at the same time he did, the defender grabbed the ball, also. They went to the ground simultaneously with the football. Then they started a little wrestling match. It’s over now,” he said. “That catch is established because if the defender was to pull the ball out of his hands now, it’s still a catch because the defender has a second action.
“So at that point when they were on the ground together, and they’re tussling to begin with, the catch is over, that’s the touchdown. Now, after that is when he rolled over and we don’t have any clear view of, quote unquote, anything happening after that. So that’s where it stands.”
Collins said none of that mattered and was adamant that he came down with possession of the ball.
“It was an interception,” he said. “I came down with the ball on my stomach.
“Once I rolled over he just tried fighting for it, but once that happened he had no possession of the ball anymore. It’s crazy.”
Deferring at the toss gave Giants the ball up four to start 2nd half. They gained 11 yards and had a punt blocked.
Bobby Hart false start, Aldrick Rosas missed field goal, Eli Manning fumble leaves door open for Russell Wilson controversial TD pass to stretch Seattle 3-pt lead to 10 in early 4th quarter.
Can’t afford (to have players lose intensity in the second half of the season). It won’t on my end, and I’ll do everything I can to make sure offensively, defensively, everybody is grinding, working and doing everything they can to be in a position to win.