Our weekly attempt to expose and explore the gray area involved in officiating NFL games. Sunday suggestions welcome via Twitter (@SeifertESPN). For all Inside Slant posts, including the weekly Officiating Review, follow this link.
Play: A five-minute delay to spot the ball after offsetting penalties against the St. Louis Rams and San Diego Chargers
Referee: Carl Cheffers
Analysis: Cheffers' crew entered the weekend with an NFL-leading average of 19.6 penalty calls per game, including declined and offsetting. Its total was 21 on Sunday at Qualcomm Stadium, including two during a controversial sequence in which Rams coach Jeff Fisher vigorously argued for Cheffers to correct his original spot.
Rams wide receiver Tavon Austin's 73-yard punt return was marred by penalties committed by both teams; the Rams' Marshall McFadden was called for holding and Chargers punter Mike Scifres was penalized for a low block. In his original announcement, Cheffers said that by rule, the offsetting penalties meant the ball would be spotted at the Rams' 22-yard line, where Austin fielded the ball.
Cheffers, however, provided an incorrect citation and explanation. A full breakdown can be found deep in a section of the NFL rule book entitled "Double Fouls With a Change of Possession." (Light reading!) From Rule 14, Section 5, Article 2, Exception (c): "If both teams foul after the last change of possession (Double Foul After Change of Possession), the team last in possession shall retain the ball at the spot of its foul or the dead-ball spot, whichever is less beneficial for it."
In this case, McFadden's hold apparently occurred near the Chargers' 40-yard line. (There was not much contact on the hold, but the end zone replay suggested that McFadden used his right arm to grab the outside left shoulder of the Chargers' Andrew Gachkar.) That spot was less beneficial to the Rams than the "dead-ball spot," where Austin finally was downed at the 5-yard line, so the 40 was where the ball was supposed to be.
Still, the change in spot means a difference of 38 yards to the Rams. Cheffers corrected the call after more than five minutes of discussion. All's well that ends well.
Play: New York Giants running back Andre Williams ruled down by contact
Referee: Bill Vinovich
Analysis: In the second quarter Sunday night, Williams was gang-tackled by three Dallas Cowboys defenders. During the process, Cowboys safety Barry Church pulled the ball loose. Before the whistles blew, Cowboys linebacker Anthony Hitchens gained possession.
Vinovich immediately ruled that Williams had been down by contact before the ball was loose, meaning the Giants would retain possession. Cowboys coach Jason Garrett challenged the play.
The number of bodies surrounding Williams blocked any opportunity for a clear view of what happened. That said, a slow version of the replay strongly indicates that Church dislodged the ball while Williams was falling into linebacker Kyle Wilber. Neither knee touched the ground, and though Williams' elbows weren't totally visible, it's unlikely they made contact either -- considering Williams' upper body was higher than his legs as supported by Wilber.
Still, the available views did not meet the technical and official standard for reversing a decision. As many know, Rule 15, Section 2, Article 3 reads in part: "A decision will be reversed only when the Referee has indisputable visual evidence available to him that warrants the change." (Emphasis not mine.)
Assumptions can't be made in these cases, no matter how likely or obvious they might be. We have all seen a stretch or two over the years, but that doesn't make this instance any different. Physics tells us there is little chance Williams was down before he fumbled, but unless Vinovich could confirm every possibility that he wasn't, the play couldn't be overturned. (The Giants scored a touchdown on the next play.)
Play: Houston Texans linebacker/defensive end Jadeveon Clowney is far into the neutral zone
Referee: Terry McAulay
Analysis: Midway through the third quarter, Clowney was lined up at right end in a four-point stance. By this angle, it appeared Clowney was more than a yard offsides and should have been penalized. Called correctly, the penalty would have negated the ensuing interception returned for a touchdown by Texans cornerback Jonathan Joseph.
The neutral zone is defined as the space between the back and forward ends of the football. Rule 7, Section 4, Article 5 defines offsides as a moment when any part of a player's body "is in or beyond the neutral zone" when the ball is put in play.
Clowney's hands appeared to be at the 49-yard line, which was also the line of scrimmage. McAulay's crew missed the call.
(Note: An earlier version of this post suggested that McAulay did not initiate a 10-second runoff after a false start in the final minute of the first half. The clock did not immediately reflect the change, but eventually McAulay made an announcement to ensure that the runoff took place.)