Did NFL Refs Cost Teams In Critical Games?

When Ryan Succop missed his 41-yard field goal that could’ve won the game for the Chiefs, San Diego had seven men on the left side of the Center. By NFL rule, only six defenders can be on either side of a snapper on a field goal try. Bill Leavy (of Super Bowl XL and the extra down in the SF-GB game earlier this season), or someone on his crew, should’ve called Illegal Formation, which is five yards and a re-kick. Had the Chiefs won, Pittsburgh would’ve been in the playoffs and San Diego would be out.

Then in Sunday night’s NFC East Championship, a late Cowboys drive was flagged for Delay of Game. Upon replay, it was shown the play clock jumped from the proper 40 seconds to 25, which should’ve been caught by Gene Steratore’s crew (of the infamous Calvin Johnson non-touchdown in 2010). While Dallas did score, the change from 1st and 10 to 1st and 15 meant a different choice of plays and a used timeout. Of course, being the Cowboys, Orton probably would’ve thrown the pick anyway, but that was a blown call.

If these replacement refs keep screwing up like this, the NFL’s going to have to…wait, there ARE the regular guys?

Read more at Sports Illustrated and USA Today.