The Minnesota Vikings endured a frustrating loss on “Thursday Night Football” after a controversial officiating decision became the focal point of their 30-20 defeat against the Los Angeles Rams. This game, marking the Vikings’ second loss of the season, was heavily influenced by a missed call late in the fourth quarter that left fans and analysts alike questioning the officiating standards.
With the Rams holding a slim 28-20 lead and under two minutes remaining, the Vikings had possession deep in their territory on a 2nd-and-10 from their own five-yard line. Rams linebacker Byron Young managed to break through the offensive line and sack Minnesota quarterback Sam Darnold.
However, Young clearly grabbed Darnold’s facemask as he brought him to the ground—a 15-yard penalty that should have granted the Vikings an automatic first down.
Despite the obvious nature of the infraction, the officials failed to throw a flag, allowing the play to go down as a safety instead. The Rams gained two points, extending their lead to 30-20, which effectively sealed the game in their favor.
RELATED: NFL Team (Not the Chiefs) Has a Play Named ‘Taylor Swift’
Replays showed the play from multiple angles, capturing two referees positioned directly behind the action in the end zone. Despite having an unobstructed view, neither official signaled a penalty, leaving fans in disbelief.
The missed call was particularly glaring given the NFL’s intensified efforts to protect quarterbacks. In recent seasons, the league has been criticized for overly strict roughing-the-passer calls, often on plays where minimal contact was made.
The decision not to call a facemask penalty on Young’s tackle of Darnold seemed to contradict that trend, especially with such clear evidence of the violation.
The NFL’s rules state that non-judgment calls like facemask penalties are not subject to review, preventing any opportunity to correct the error.
However, to have such an obvious infraction missed in the final minutes of a close, one-possession game raised significant concerns about officiating consistency, particularly regarding quarterback safety.
For the Vikings, this missed call became a devastating turning point, marking one of the most talked-about officiating errors of the NFL season.
