In a dramatic NFC showdown between the Minnesota Vikings and the Los Angeles Rams on Thursday night, a missed call left fans and players alike frustrated, as a potential facemask penalty on Byron Young went unnoticed. With the Rams leading 28-20, Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold was attempting a pass from his own end zone when Young grabbed his facemask, yanking him to the ground.
The officials ruled the play as a safety, which ultimately sealed the Rams’ victory, ending any chance of a Vikings comeback. Had the facemask been flagged, the Vikings would have retained possession, giving them a shot to tie the game.
Referee Tra Blake later commented that the officiating crew didn’t call the penalty because they simply couldn’t see the facemask grab. “The quarterback was facing the opposite direction from me, so I did not have a good look at it,” Blake explained.
“I did not have a look, and I did not see the face mask being pulled, obviously.” However, video footage clearly shows Young’s hand on Darnold’s facemask, sparking debate about missed calls and the need for expanded replay in such high-stakes moments.
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In light of the controversy, NFL spokesperson Brian McCarthy spoke with ProFootballTalk on Friday, revealing that the league is likely to consider making facemask penalties reviewable next season.
“Yes, it’s likely that facemask will come up this offseason,” McCarthy stated. “Instant replay and what plays should and should not be reviewable is part of the conversation every offseason, and it’s anticipated it will come up again. Teams may propose a rule change, and there have previously been a variety of proposals on which plays or if all plays should be reviewable.”
As the NFL heads into the offseason, adding facemask penalties to the list of reviewable calls could prevent similar outcomes in the future.
While it won’t change the outcome of Thursday’s game, it could be a significant step toward ensuring accuracy in critical moments.
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