I’m at the game and the fireworks have gone off and the Seahawks have walked away from the stadium winners. Now the second-guessing of the final play begins. Was it an interception or was it a winning touchdown? It’s hard to say, since in some aspects it looks like a case of simultaneous possession. Green Bay fans look at it as the referees snatched their hard-fought victory from them with a bad call. However, all that can be said is the call at the end of the game was the culmination of a poorly officiated game. What if the two questionable penalties which gave Green Bay first downs and continued their touchdown drive when it was third and long had not been called? Would Green Bay have punted and there would not have been the last play to dispute. Who knows?

What is known that this game was played on the NFL’s biggest stage with its biggest audience and that the officiating definitely was below the standards that everyone would expect. It had a very negative impact on the flow of the game and the outcome. It affected both teams equally and to say it cost the Packers a victory is disingenuous. This game really highlighted the impact of the dispute with the referees and the use of replacements. Hopefully the black eye that the NFL has received will lead to an end of the dispute. The regular referees know how to call the game. They know the rules and keep the game moving smoothly. It is said that a penalty could be called on almost any play, but, the regulars have experience to call the ones that impact the play and the outcome and let the frivolous infractions slide. It is that experience that was lacking in Monday’s game.

I’m sorry for the Green Bay Packer fans, but I believe that the Seahawks earned the victory. The focus of any argument should not be on the one questionable call on the last play of the game, but, on all of the questionable and dubious calls during the game.

Mark Baker

Lake Stevens