SB Nation Seattle - Seahawks Vs. Packers: Seattle Earns Victory With Controversial Hail Maryhttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/48997/seattle-fave.png2012-09-26T15:27:33-07:00http://seattle.sbnation.com/rss/stream/31159352012-09-26T15:27:33-07:002012-09-26T15:27:33-07:00Golden Tate pushed off, but wouldn't any wideout?
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<figcaption>Kirby Lee-US PRESSWIRE - Presswire</figcaption>
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<p>Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald says that any wide receiver would have done anything they could to get to the football, which includes the offensive pass interference that Golden Tate of the Seattle Seahawks committed.</p> <p>If you might remember, before the incorrect touchdown call that helped the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.fieldgulls.com/">Seattle Seahawks</a> beat the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.acmepackingcompany.com/">Green Bay Packers</a> on the final play, there was a second missed opportunity by the replacement referees to avoid the disastrous outcome. <span>Golden Tate</span> blatantly pushed off a Green Bay defender before going down, wrestling the ball away from <span>M.D. Jennings</span> and getting rewarded with simultaneous possession and the game winning touchdown catch. Tate, in a postgame interview with ESPN's Lisa Salters, later denied that he pushed off of anyone, although the replay clearly indicated there were some late-game shenanigans.</p>
<p><a target="_blank" href="http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-am/0ap1000000066138/Fitzgerald-recreates-Packers-Seahawks-Hail-Mary">Larry Fitzgerald points out in an interview and demonstration on NFL AM</a> that what Tate did was standard operating procedure for wide receivers in the end zone. Fitzgerald says that he would try to do whatever he can to get past his defender, run to the football and try and get it before anyone else can. Whether that includes offensive pass interference or not is irrelevant -- all that matters is getting to the football and making a play on the football, regardless of whether it means pushing people out of the way or not.</p>
<p><a target="_blank" href="http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-am/0ap1000000066138/Fitzgerald-recreates-Packers-Seahawks-Hail-Mary">Check out the video interview by clicking here on NFL.com</a>.</p>
https://seattle.sbnation.com/seattle-seahawks/2012/9/26/3414220/seahawks-nfl-packers-golden-tateAvinash Kunnath2012-09-26T13:05:35-07:002012-09-26T13:05:35-07:00Breaking news: Marshawn Lynch is still really good
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<figcaption>Otto Greule Jr - Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>Seattle Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch is still really good, regardless of bad officiating or not.</p> <p>Lost in the strange victory by the Seattle Seahawks was another outstanding performance by Marshawn Lynch. Lynch carried the ball 29 times for 98 yards, which is only 3.9 yards per carry. However, given how much difficulty Seattle had in moving the football through the air with Russell Wilson's arm, the Green Bay Packers defense was keyed in on stopping the Seattle run game, making Lynch's job more difficult.</p>
<p>However, Lynch proved he was capable of making his way and ripped off some pretty critical rushing gains, particularly on a 4th down conversion that helped set up great field position later on for the last minute drive by the Seahawks.<a target="_blank" href="http://blogs.nfl.com/2012/09/25/what-else-did-we-learn-about-the-seahawks-packers-game/"> Ian Rapoport of NFL.com files this report</a> that talks about what Marshawn was able to do with that carry, including dragging the gigantic B.J. Raji along with him for the ride. That play was extra critical since the Packers probably would have taken over at midfield, and if Seattle had forced Green Bay off the field they would probably have been in a far worse situation.</p>
https://seattle.sbnation.com/seattle-seahawks/2012/9/26/3413290/seahawks-packers-nflAvinash Kunnath2012-09-25T14:33:23-07:002012-09-25T14:33:23-07:00Even Seattle Fans Are Irked By Official's Call
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<p>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.fieldgulls.com/">Seattle Seahawks</a> won, but even a biased Seattle Seahawks fan can be rocked by the team's victory against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.acmepackingcompany.com/">Green Bay Packers</a>. <span>Golden Tate's</span> supposed touchdown catch on the final Hail Mary play gave the Seahawks the win, but the larger picture is that it marred not only the Packers' record, but the game of football.</p>
<p>Kenneth Arthur of Field Gulls is <a href="http://www.fieldgulls.com/2012/9/25/3405416/seahawks-packers-monday-night-football-replacement-referees-golden-tate" target="_blank">afraid to re-watch the Seattle victory</a>.</p>
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<p>It's been too soon for me to re-watch this game in its entirety and frankly I'm scared to do so. It wasn't just a play, it was awful officiating for <strike>sixty</strike> 240 minutes. Or at least that's how long that game felt. I'm worried that I'll lose respect for the game I love when I re-watch this game without any emotion attached to every play since I know that no matter what happens, we win.</p>
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<p>Of course, Seahawks fans can be happy because their team came out with another impressive defensive effort in the victory. Arthur cites Green Bay quarterback <span>Aaron Rodgers</span>' 5.72 passing yards per attempt, his lowest in a game since Halloween night of 2010, as one of the most impressive positives in the game.</p>
<p>And though Tate's efforts might have stolen the game from the Packers, the fact the effort was there is why the Seahawks got the benefit of the call, Arthur believes.</p>
https://seattle.sbnation.com/seattle-seahawks/2012/9/25/3407788/packers-vs-seahawks-reaction-even-seattle-fans-can-lose-respect-forKevin Zimmerman2012-09-25T12:23:20-07:002012-09-25T12:23:20-07:00Marshawn Lynch reacts to controversial call
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<p>Courtesy of <a href="http://www.fieldgulls.com/2012/9/25/3406404/marshawn-lynch-reacts-to-controversial-win-we-just-play-ball">Field Gulls</a> and <a href="http://www.gridirongrunts.com/">Gridiron Grunts</a>, <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.fieldgulls.com/">Seattle Seahawks</a> fans got to hear running back Marswahn Lynch's reaction to the controversial call made at the end of Monday night's 14-12 win over the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.acmepackingcompany.com/">Green Bay Packers</a>.</p>
<p>In the <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=jPQhfZhd1WM">13-second YouTube clip</a>, filmed by Lynch on his phone after he had a postgame meal at a steakhouse with his grandmother, several friends and some business associates, the sixth-year back asked NFL fans why they've been directing their anger toward the Seahawks.</p>
<p>"We don't make the calls. We just play ball. Don't be mad at us," Lynch said.</p>
<p><i>SB Nation is partners with <a target="_blank" href="http://www.gridirongrunts.com/">Gridiron Grunts</a>, who are a unique communication channel conceived by pro athletes, for pro athletes and their fans. This one-of-a-kind service brings pro athlete's thoughts to the masses straight from the source - without filters - and connects fans to each other in a unique way.</i></p>
<p><span id="internal-source-marker_0.4202179182320833"><i>For more on the Seattle Seahawks, join the discussion over at <a href="http://fieldgulls.com/">Field Gulls</a>. You can also check out everything we have to offer at <a href="http://sbnation.com/nfl">SB Nation's NFL hub</a>.</i></span></p>
https://seattle.sbnation.com/seattle-seahawks/2012/9/25/3406952/seahawks-packers-marshawn-lynchRiley Breckenridge2012-09-25T11:58:13-07:002012-09-25T11:58:13-07:00Seahawks blog reacts to MNF's crazy ending
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<p>It's still resonating in everyone's minds. The game dubbed by <a href="http://www.fieldgulls.com/2012/9/24/3386332/seahawks-defeat-packers-14-12-it-was-weird">Field Gulls' Danny Kelly </a>as the 'most controversial game in the history of Monday Night Football', featured a <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.fieldgulls.com/">Seattle Seahawks</a> team that has the uncomfortable distinction of having to celebrate a win that never should have been. A win debated from coast-to-coast as asterisk-worthy, a hoax, a sham.</p>
<p>Kelly both asks and answers a litany of questions surrounding the last play of the game and whether the replacement officials got it right based on the NFL rulebook as well as what it says in regards to ‘simultaneous possession'.</p>
<p>But Kelly tried to get back to what would have been the story of the game if it had not been for that controversial ending, and that's the play of the Seahawks' defense. When you sack the reigning league MVP eight times in the first half and have one of the most explosive offenses in the league out of rhythm for most of the game, you need to be talked about. Instead, they are mentioned at the bottom of every conversation about this game because of the ending.</p>
<p>So much happened in the game that Kelly couldn't even get to the number of penalties that the Seahawks racked up (again). Guess there's always tomorrow.</p>
<p><em>For more on the Seahawks, visit </em><a href="http://www.fieldgulls.com"><em><strong>Field Gulls</strong></em></a><em><strong>.</strong></em></p>
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https://seattle.sbnation.com/seattle-seahawks/2012/9/25/3406822/seahawks-packers-2012-blog-reactionRonald Clark2012-09-25T11:54:21-07:002012-09-25T11:54:21-07:00Seahawks win is about more than 'one bad call'
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<figcaption>Kirby Lee-US PRESSWIRE - Presswire</figcaption>
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<p>Referees miss calls all the time. If you don't believe me, you haven't been a Seahawks fan long enough.</p> <p>I've watched quarterbacks score touchdowns with their helmets.</p>
<p>I've seen a quarterback called for clipping when he attempted to tackle a player who had just intercepted him.</p>
<p>There are countless examples in every game where plays are missed or fans influence the game. This game was a great example of that, and I'm not even talking about the last play of the game.</p>
<p>Offensive linemen held one of <span>Bruce Irvin</span>, <span>Brandon Mebane</span> and Chris Clemons on nearly every play of the second half. <span>Kam Chancellor</span> made a perfect play on a third down pass over the middle and was called for pass interference, a play that extended a drive for Green Bay that eventually led to the go-ahead score for the visiting <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.acmepackingcompany.com/">Packers</a>. Few are out in force on twitter telling everyone Kam got screwed... and that's the way it should be.</p>
<p>A karmic bubble burst tonight, people, and decades of poorly made calls against my beloved Seahawks all came crashing down on the Packers and <span>M.D. Jennings</span>. Sure Jennings clearly had possession of the ball, but that's in the air. A player can't gain what is referred to as ‘sole possession' until he reaches the ground, it's the same idea as a receiver needing to maintain control through the catch. If you drop the ball before you come down it's not a completion. Likewise, if you're Jennings and another player joins you in possession before you come down it's not an interception, as possession goes to the receiver.</p>
<p>I'm pretty peeved about the reactions of the national media and even some of my fellow Seahawks fans. It's damn hard to win in the NFL and to say, as some are, that the Seahawks shouldn't be celebrating this is ludicrous. Why shouldn't we celebrate? Because the refs blew the last call of the game? Not me man, not me.</p>
<p>When the season ends, the record will show we won on that night by a score of 14-12 and that will be all that matters when it comes to getting where we'd all like to see the Seahawks go, the playoffs. So if you've got beef with the outcome and don't want to celebrate, feel free to mope with the rest of the football universe. Me? I'm going to lie back and enjoy the favor karma has returned to me, at long last.</p>
<p>Besides, <span>Golden Tate</span> totally caught that ball...</p>
https://seattle.sbnation.com/2012/9/25/3406806/seahawks-packers-golden-tate-callLuke Wehrheim2012-09-25T10:13:21-07:002012-09-25T10:13:21-07:00NFL backs replacement refs on call
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<figcaption>Kirby Lee-US PRESSWIRE - Presswire</figcaption>
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<p>The NFL released a statement on Tuesday backing the referees decision to not overturn the touchdown call during Monday night's Packers-Seahawks game.</p> <p>The NFL released a statement Tuesday in which they addressed the controversial final play in Monday night's game between the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.acmepackingcompany.com/">Green Bay Packers</a> and <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.fieldgulls.com/">Seattle Seahawks</a>. But fans expecting the league to come out and say the replacement referees did a terrible job will be disappointed. The NFL concluded that any time two players go to the ground with the ball, the catch always defaults to the offensive player, which in this case was Seattle wide receiver <span>Golden Tate</span>.</p>
<p>The league agrees with referee Wayne Elliott that there was no indisputable visual evidence to overturn the call on the field. In other words, they did not conclude that <span>M.D. Jennings</span>, the Packers' defensive back, had full possession of the ball, as it was shared with Tate, who gets the nod because he plays on offense.</p>
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<p>Referee Wayne Elliott determined that no indisputable visual evidence existed to overturn the call on the field, and as a result, the on-field ruling of touchdown stood. The NFL Officiating Department reviewed the video today and supports the decision not to overturn the on-field ruling following the instant replay review.</p>
<p>The result of the game is final.</p>
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<p>Rules cited include everything in the NFL rulebook that has to do with completing a catch, which includes having clear control of the ball all the way to the ground. It's an odd rule to cite given how unclear everything actually was on that play. There are simultaneous-catch rules, which are cited at the end of the statement that corroborate the earlier note that offensive players get the nod in those situations.</p>
<p>Outside of the actual catch and the simultaneous rules, the NFL agreed that there should have been an offensive pass interference call when Tate shoved <span>Sam Shields</span>, and that it should have ended the game. Such a play is not reviewable in instant replay, however.</p>
<p><i>This story was originally published on <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/2012/9/25/3405826/nfl-statement-packers-vs-seahawks-refs" target="new">SBNation.com</a>.</i><i></i></p>
https://seattle.sbnation.com/2012/9/25/3406090/packers-seahawks-nfl-statement-refsJames Brady2012-09-25T05:00:48-07:002012-09-25T05:00:48-07:00Packers Vs. Seahawks: The Disputed Final Play In GIF Form
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<p>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.fieldgulls.com/">Seattle Seahawks</a> beat the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.acmepackingcompany.com/">Green Bay Packers</a> 13-12 on a final play that defies description. So let's look at it in image form.</p>
<p>Here's <span>M.D. Jennings</span> of the Packers going up and getting the football, and appearing to come down to the ground with the football.</p>
<p><a href="http://cdn3.sbnation.com/imported_assets/1210517/refss.gif"><img alt="Refss_medium" class="photo" src="http://cdn2.sbnation.com/imported_assets/1210517/refss_medium.gif"></a></p>
<p>Then there's the view from behind, which again makes it look like Williams never loses control of that football when he's on his way down to the ground.</p>
<p><a href="http://cdn3.sbnation.com/imported_assets/1210523/replay.gif"><img alt="Replay_medium" class="photo" src="http://cdn0.sbnation.com/imported_assets/1210523/replay_medium.gif"></a></p>
<p>Then you have this view, which shows <span>Golden Tate</span> fighting for the football in a desperate attempt to gain simultaneous possession of the football. Technically, simultaneous possession is not applicable in cases where one player takes control of the football and the second player then wrests control away afterwards.</p>
<p><a href="http://cdn1.sbnation.com/imported_assets/1210529/hailmar2.gif"><img alt="Hailmar2_medium" class="photo" src="http://cdn0.sbnation.com/imported_assets/1210529/hailmar2_medium.gif"></a></p>
<p>However, the NFL officials on the scene ruled otherwise. At least one of them signaled touchdown, and that was the call on the field. Since it was ruled simultaneous possession, the touchdown was preserved because simultaneous possession is an unreviewable act.</p>
<p><a href="http://cdn0.sbnation.com/imported_assets/1210535/seaaaa.gif"><img alt="Seaaaa_medium" class="photo" src="http://cdn3.sbnation.com/imported_assets/1210535/seaaaa_medium.gif"></a></p>
<p>Regardless, Seahawks quarterback <span>Russell Wilson</span> is impressed with himself, and he should be. He might have just thrown the first ever game-winning touchception in NFL history.</p>
<p><i>Talk about the result with Seahawks fans<a target="_blank" href="http://www.fieldgulls.com"> at Field Gulls</a>, and Packers fans<a target="_blank" href="http://www.acmepackingcompany.com"> at Acme Packing Company</a>.</i></p>
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https://seattle.sbnation.com/seattle-seahawks/2012/9/25/3386572/packers-seahawks-2012-scoreAvinash Kunnath