Seahawks vs. Cowboys Showdown Rocked by Massive Pass Interference Drama! You Won’t Believe the Impact!

Before I share my thoughts, let me be clear that the Seattle Seahawks’ defeat on Thursday night against the Dallas Cowboys wasn’t solely due to officiating.

The reasons for Seattle’s loss are twofold:

1. Dallas capitalized on 8 out of 9 “meaningful” possessions, scoring 4 touchdowns, 4 field goals, and forcing 1 turnover on downs.
2. Seattle’s last points were scored with 14:17 remaining in the game, as the offense faced turnovers on downs in each of their final three possessions.

However, it’s worth noting that the officiating was subpar, and there’s one particular play that stands out. If you tuned into the game, you already have an idea of what’s coming.

Evidently, Riq Woolen made contact with CeeDee Lamb’s shoulder while the ball was airborne.

However, did this contact impact Lamb’s capacity to secure the catch?

That would be a NO.

Lamb had possession of the ball, yet he failed to complete the catch. However, the officials favored the Cowboys: what was originally 2nd and 4 from the Dallas 31 turned into 1st and 10 from Seattle’s 34.

This shift amounted to a 35-yard swing due to the defensive back’s shoulder touch on the wide receiver. Such incidental contact is commonplace in many plays but often goes uncalled.

To be clear, Dallas’s victory wasn’t solely attributed to this play. At the time, Seattle led 35-27, the Cowboys’ drive stalled at the Seattle 19, resulting in a Brandon Aubrey field goal that cut the lead to 5. Dallas triumphed because their defense stepped up when necessary, while Seattle’s defense faltered. The offenses also played a role; Geno Smith & Co. fell short repeatedly, whereas Dak Prescott & Co. executed when needed.

This article doesn’t focus on the game’s outcome but rather underscores the influence of pass interference calls on the match.

In my perspective, the penalty drawn for touching Lamb’s shoulder serves as a symbol for a broader conversation that should take place at the league office.

Throughout Thursday night’s game, the Seahawks and Cowboys accrued 257 yards from 19 accepted penalties, with a fairly balanced breakdown:

– Seattle: 10 penalties for 130 yards
– Dallas: 9 penalties for 127 yards

However, within these penalties, there was a notable imbalance:

– Defensive Pass Interference (DPI): 6 penalties for 166 yards
– Everything else: 13 penalties for 91 yards

Breaking down the DPIs:

– Seattle: 4 for 113 yards
– Dallas: 2 for 53

Even if we assume all defensive pass interference calls were justified (which is doubtful), they constituted almost two-thirds (64.6%) of the penalty yards on Thursday night, amounting to an exorbitant 166 yards in field position from just 6 flags.

This brings me to my point…

It’s high time for the NFL to reevaluate pass interference. Personally, I advocate for making defensive pass interference a 15-yard penalty in most cases, with it becoming a spot foul in specific situations:

– In the final five minutes of a half
– In overtime
– When the referee deems the interference “clearly intentional” (e.g., tackling a receiver behind the defense or “mugging” a receiver in the end zone)

Even if the league doesn’t change where the ball is spotted, redefining what constitutes “pass interference” (as seen in the Woolen/Lamb example) should be considered.

Alternatively, or in addition, the league should revisit the notion of pass interference being a challengeable play. Despite initial challenges in 2019, perhaps allowing challenges only for called pass interference penalties would yield more success.

In essence, defensive pass interference penalties wield disproportionate influence on a game, warranting the league’s attention. The specific approach is at the league’s discretion, but addressing the issue is imperative.