Los Angeles Rams cornerback Josh Wallace was wrongly flagged for pass interference late in Sunday night’s 30-26 loss to the Denver Broncos, the NFL confirmed through Rams head coach Sean McVay. The penalty wiped out what appeared to be an interception by Wallace and set up a first-and-goal for the Broncos, who scored the go-ahead touchdown and eventually held on for the win.
Wallace’s play came with just over a minute left in the game. He seemed to secure an interception off Broncos quarterback Bo Nix, a turnover that would have given the Rams possession at their own 8-yard line while leading 26-23. However, officials called pass interference on Wallace, negating the interception and handing Denver a crucial scoring opportunity.
NBC rules analyst Terry McAulay, known for his expertise on officiating, agreed with the view that the penalty was incorrect. McAulay said the call should not have been made, a sentiment that was later confirmed by the league when McVay revealed the NFL had told him the flag was wrong.
“It doesn’t really matter,” McVay said on Monday about the call. “It is what it is. That was the call that was made and there was a lot of opportunities that we had to be able to close the door on that game. … But I wouldn't have any additional coaching points for how Josh [Wallace] plays through the cycle of the snap. But I'm not going to make excuses either and we're not going to play the victim card.”
Despite the league’s admission, the penalty stands since it was not overturned during the game. The Broncos capitalised on the extended drive, scoring the touchdown that put them ahead for good. The Rams dropped to 1-2 on the season following the narrow defeat.
The error left Rams fans and analysts questioning the impact of officiating on the outcome. Had Wallace’s interception been allowed, the Rams had the chance to run down the clock and secure the win, even with Denver holding three timeouts. Instead, the Broncos maintained possession and sealed the victory in the final moments.
McVay’s remarks suggest a focus on moving forward rather than dwelling on the call. The league has not announced plans to review or change the officiating protocol for similar situations, meaning this penalty will remain part of the official record from the Week 3 matchup.
The Rams now face the challenge of regrouping after a tough loss that hinged on a single, admitted officiating mistake.
According to Yahoo Sports.
