Monday Night Football 2015
In reality, the Seattle Seahawks are 2-2 after a wild defeat of the Detroit Lions on Monday Night Football at CenturyLink Field. However, most who watched the game understand how lucky Seattle is and was, knowing it should be 1-3 and tied with the San Francisco 49ers in the NFC West basement.
The Seahawks led 13-3 throughout most of the second half before quarterback Russell Wilson fumbled for the second time in the quarter. The ball was scooped up by Caraun Reid and returned 27 yards for a touchdown, pulling Detroit within three points. Following a defensive stop, the Lions got possession back and proceeded to march the length of the field before Calvin Johnson dove for the end zone – ball stretched out. Seahawks strong safety Kam Chancellor then made the play of the night, punching the ball out from behind and forcing a fumble into the end zone.
Linebacker K.J. Wright, thinking he was making a heads up play, batted the ball out of bounds for a touchback, giving Seattle the victory. However, the play should have been ruled an illegal bat, giving the ball back to Detroit in a first and goal situation. The officials blew the call, and ultimately put an end to the Lions’ season while helping Seattle draw within one game of the first-place Arizona Cardinals in the West.
The National Football League has already admitted its mistake, but said the play was non-reviewable. Anybody who watches the league on a weekly basis knows that all turnovers are automatically reviewed, but head of officiating Dean Blandino stated that only the first part of the play was reviewable, and there was a clear fumble.
At some point, the NFL needs to open Pandora’s Box and simply have everything become reviewable. Detroit is now 0-4 and has virtually no shot of making the playoffs, while the Seahawks are rolling after two consecutive wins at home. Both teams should be sitting at 1-3, provided the Lions go in for a touchdown in that spot.
The Seahawks may have won the game, but there is ample reason to doubt them as a playoff team, let alone a Super Bowl contender. The defense again looks elite, but the offensive line is a mess. It allowed six more sacks on Monday night, with only the Kansas City Chiefs surrendering more through four weeks. Wilson is the best in football at evading the rush and turning negative plays into positive ones, but even his clock will toll midnight at some point.
If Seattle has any chance of winning the West and making a charge at a third consecutive Super Bowl, the line must improve and Jimmy Graham must show up.
A little more luck would not hurt either.
