Early in the third quarter of the Thursday Night Football game between the Packers and Eagles, Green Bay receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling tried to bring in a pass from Aaron Rodgers. Valdes-Scantling’s efforts were seriously hindered by cornerback Avonte Maddox, and this looked like as much of a textbook case of pass interference as you will ever see.
Packers head coach Matt LaFleur challenged the ruling of no interference, and official Clay Martin determined upon review that the no-call stood.
Which, when you look at the play, seems patently ridiculous. Maddox did turn to the ball briefly before turning his head back to the receiver, but before the ball gets there, he’s got his face turned to the receiver, he’s got his left hand on Valdes-Scantling’s facemask, and he’s pushing Valdes-Scantling back with his own helmet.
The NFL agreed with the no-call, and the review. The Packers punted on the next play down 21-20, and the Eagles scored a touchdown on their next drive.
The new rule allowing coaches to review no-calls for pass interference is useless if both the league’s officials and the people in the command center in New York City are going to blow calls to this degree. Defending the no-call by saying there’s no clear and obvious evidence of pass interference is simply laughable.
