NFL Officials Under Fire for Unwarranted Clock Stoppage in Washington Commanders vs. New Orleans Saints Game
NFL officials took heat on Sunday for an inexplicable clock stoppage during a game between the Washington Commanders and New Orleans Saints. With 17 seconds left and the Saints facing 4th-and-3, quarterback Spencer Rattler threw a pass to Foster Moreau for the conversion, advancing the team to the 1-yard line. As Rattler and his teammates rushed to the line of scrimmage, a sideline judge unexpectedly called for the clock to be stopped, halting play for at least three seconds.
After Rattler spiked the ball to officially stop the clock, there were three seconds remaining. On the next play, Rattler threw a touchdown pass to Moreau, followed by a failed 2-point conversion attempt. The Saints ultimately lost the game 20-19, with the clock stoppage drawing the ire of NFL fans.
Referee Shawn Hochuli acknowledged the mistake, stating that the covering official had mistakenly stopped the clock and that it was not reviewable. When asked if the officials in the crew were aware of the mistake, Hochuli declined to comment further. The Washington Commanders’ win moved them to 9-5, while the New Orleans Saints dropped to 5-9.