This was one of those games where you walk away thinking, "How did the refs miss that?" The Los Angeles Rams came out on top over the Minnesota Vikings, 30-20, but the story here isn't just about the final score; it's about a missed face mask call that practically handed the win to LA.
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With under two minutes left, Vikings QB Sam Darnold was sacked in his own end zone for a safety, sealing the game for the Rams. But the problem? Replays clearly showed Rams linebacker Byron Young grabbing Darnold's face mask — a blatant foul that somehow went unflagged. This wasn't a close call; it was textbook. And the no-call robbed Minnesota of a chance to tie things up.
Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell held back some, but you could tell he wasn't happy.
"Looked like he got a pretty good amount of face mask," O'Connell said, choosing his words carefully. He made it clear that he thought it was a miss, but he's not the type to openly bash the officiating. Even so, you don't need to read between the lines to see his frustration.
— dubs408 (@dubsvidstouse) October 25, 2024
For the Vikings, this kind of officiating gaffe is a tough pill to swallow, especially in a tight game. And for the NFL, it's just another chapter in the book on missed calls in crunch time. It won't be the last, but Minnesota's faithful won't soon forget this one.
Per CBS Sports: "Referee Tra Blake told a pool reporter following the game that no official had a good look at the face mask so they were unable to make the call. The play is not reviewable."
