November 01, 2004
Washington Redskins Fall to Green Bay Packers (28-14): Could Controversial Outcome Mirror Tomorrow’s Presidential Election
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The arcing pass from Mark Brunell fell gently to Clinton Portis in perfect stride as the running back emerged from a fog of bodies, sprinted past the Green Bay defense and launched himself across the goal line for a 43-yard touchdown, leaving the Washington Redskins just an extra point away from taking the lead yesterday afternoon with less than three minutes to play.
Washington had been facing third and eight and trailing 20-14, but as delirium spread through FedEx Field and exhausted offensive linemen chased Portis around the end zone seeking to join in his celebration, the officials were collaborating in the backfield, where a flag had been thrown. This was Washington's biggest play of the season -- the kind of sequence that can propel a middling team on to greater things and re-ignite a stumbling offense -- but in the eyes of the NFL, none of it ever occurred.
The officials called an illegal motion penalty against wide receiver James Thrash, who was in motion on the play, a decision that left the Redskins both confounded and vexed. Brunell (25 of 44 for 218 yards, 2 touchdowns, 2 interceptions), scorned by the crowd throughout the game, was no longer redeemed, and threw an interception on the next play. Green Bay added a touchdown and two-point conversion on that drive to secure a 28-14 win, handing Coach Joe Gibbs another stinging defeat and dropping his team to 2-5, alone in last place in the NFC East.
"Our season was on the verge of just turning around if we win that game," tackle Chris Samuels said. "If Clinton's touchdown was good. But unfortunately they made the call. That's what they thought. There's nothing we can do about that now."
Washington's coaches left the stadium last night unsure of why the officials threw that flag. Gibbs said he was told initially that Portis was observed moving at the line of scrimmage, but the coaches were adamant the runner was set. Another official told Gibbs that Thrash was the culprit and either did not come to a complete stop while in motion or was lurching over the line; Thrash was involved in pass protection on the play and did not go out for a pattern.
"I've got to tell you, it's an absolute mystery to me," Gibbs said of the call. Thrash was similarly confused. "I think [the referee] said the back [Portis] was moving forward, and then he said I was moving forward in motion. To be honest I don't know for sure. . . . I'm not going to say something bad about somebody because I don't know for sure."
Joe Bugel, the assistant head coach-offense, tried to call other officials to the sideline to get a clarification, but said his pleas were ignored. "Nobody gave us a clear definition of it," he said. Don Breaux, the mild-mannered offensive coordinator, berated an official in the corridor outside Washington's dressing room after the game and was still searching for answers an hour later. "I don't know what they called there," he said. "I really don't know." A league official contacted after the game confirmed an illegal motion penalty was called on Thrash but was unable to offer any further explanation on the penalty.
That swing -- from potential game-winning touchdown to loss-clinching interception -- was but one of many twists in this contest, during which several questionable calls did not go the Redskins' way. Packers quarterback Brett Favre, still reeling from the recent death of his brother-in-law and the revelation that his wife has breast cancer, went from completing 14 of 18 passes for 234 yards in the first half to nearly handing the game away with poor decisions in the second half. Washington's top-ranked defense, lacking several vital players, recovered from a slow start to force three turnovers and put the offense in stellar position to win it late.
So, with all the controversial ballot measures impacting the presidential race this election season, whether or not Kerry wins tomorrow in the final score of votes cast, like the Packers did yesterday in terms of points scored, the controversial call that decides the outcome of the contest overall is sure to be mirrored in a fractious battle over rules and legalities in the weeks to come.
- Arik
Posted by Arik Johnson at November 1, 2004 12:05 PM | TrackBack
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