SEATTLE — In a bizarre ending that capped a brutal weekend for replacement officials, the Seattle Seahawks somehow beat the Green Bay Packers 14-12 on Monday night in a game that’s certain to re-ignite frustrations over the locked-out refs.
Russell Wilson threw a disputed 24-yard touchdown pass to Golden Tate on the final play of the game, a game that finally ended 10 minutes later when both teams were brought back onto the field for the extra point.
Wilson scrambled from the pocket and threw to the corner of the end zone as the clock expired. Tate shoved Green Bay’s Sam Shields out of the way, then wrestled with M.D. Jennings for possession. It was ruled on the field as a touchdown and after a lengthy review, referee Wayne Elliott came out from under the hood and announced “the ruling on the field stands” and CenturyLink Field erupted in celebration.
It was nearly 10 minutes before the teams were brought back for the extra point.
The final decision is only going to fuel debate about the replacement officials coming off a weekend filled with disputed calls.
“Don’t ask me a question about the officials,” Green Bay coach Mike McCarthy said. “I’ve never seen anything like that in all my years in football.
“I know it’s been a wild weekend in the NFL, and I guess we’re part of it now.”
And the last game of the weekend will be debated more than any other.
Seattle (2-1) won its second straight, while Green Bay (1-2) saw its streak of wins in six straight road openers snapped.
Wilson’s heave came at the end of a final frantic drive after Seattle had previously missed on a fourth-down attempt from the Green Bay 7 with 2 minutes left. The turnover on downs appeared to end Seattle’s hopes and cap an impressive second-half comeback by the Packers and Aaron Rodgers, who was sacked eight times — all in the first half.
Green Bay averted disaster when John Kuhn fumbled on the Packers first play following the change of possession but center Jeff Saturday recovered. The Seahawks held and forced Green Bay to punt from the 4 with 57 seconds left. The 41-yard punt set Seattle up at the Green Bay 46 with 46 seconds remaining.
Wilson hit Sidney Rice for 22 yards on a slant then went for Tate in the end zone. The ball was batted away with 18 seconds left. He threw over the head of Evan Moore on second down, leaving 12 seconds remaining, and missed Tate again at the 5.
Wilson took the final snap with 8 seconds remaining. He appeared to be looking for Rice on the right side of the end zone, but he rolled left and threw for Tate, who was in a crowd of three Packers defenders. His shove of Shields was obvious, and it was never clear who had possession between Tate and Jennings.
Seattle instantly celebrated while the Packers argued with anyone in a striped shirt. Both teams were eventually shoved to the sidelines as Tate stomped through the end zone in celebration. Following the review, Elliott’s announcement sent the stadium into delirium and even more confusion ensued until the teams finally returned to the field for the extra point.
“From what I understood from the officials it was a simultaneous catch. Tie goes to the runner. Good call,” Seattle coach Pete Carroll said.
Rodgers had quite a different opinion.
“It was awful. Just look at the replay. And then the fact that it was reviewed, it was awful,” he said. “That’s all I’m going to say about it.
“We shouldn’t have been in that position.
It was Tate’s second touchdown of the game after catching a 41-yard TD in the second quarter to give Seattle a 7-0 lead. He finished with three catches for 68 yards, while Wilson was 10-of-21 for 130 yards.
The Packers’ frustration was almost instant. Guard T.J. Lang was even more emphatic, tweeting that the Packers were robbed “by the refs. Thanks NFL.”
Lang also added this: “Fine me and use the money to pay the regular refs.”
Others spoke their mind by tweeting.
Hall of Fame quarterback Troy Aikman tweeted “These games are a joke,” while NBA MVP LeBron James tweeted “I simply just LOVE the NFL to much to see these mistakes. I’m sick like I just played for the Packers”
Other Twitter statements:
c “13th man beat us tonight.” — Green Bay tight end Tom Crabtree.
c “Drama. Great for business. Godspeed, Ed Hochuli.” — Houston Texans running back Arian Foster.
c “This is what the NFL has come down to, & yet they tell you to respect the shield! Lol. But they’ll try to fine us for everything thing we do.” — Arizona defensive end Darnell Dockett.
Green Bay shook off a disastrous first half where Rodgers was sacked eight times and completely controlled possession in the final 30 minutes. Green Bay ran 41 offensive plays in the second half, got field goals of 29 and 40 yards from Mason Crosby and Cedric Benson’s 1-yard TD run with 8:44 left to take a 12-7 lead.
Seahawks 14, Packers 12
Green Bay 0 0 6 6 — 12
Seattle 0 7 0 7 — 14
Second quarter
Sea—Tate 41 pass from Wilson (Hauschka kick), 6:22.
Third Quarter
GB—FG Crosby 29, 8:07.
GB—FG Crosby 40, 1:14.
Fourth Quarter
GB—Benson 1 run (pass failed), 8:44.
Sea—Tate 24 pass from Wilson (Hauschka kick), :00.
A—68,218.
GB Sea
First downs 22 14
Total Net Yards 268 238
Rushes-yards 21-84 29-127
Passing 184 111
Punt Returns 3-12 2-5
Kickoff Returns 1-23 2-42
Interceptions Ret. 0-0 0-0
Comp-Att-Int 26-39-0 10-21-0
Sacked-Yards Lost 8-39 1-19
Punts 6-44.5 6-51.5
Fumbles-Lost 2-0 0-0
Penalties-Yards 10-127 14-118
Time of Possession 33:39 26:21
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING—Green Bay, Benson 17-45, Cobb 1-20, Rodgers 2-17, Kuhn 1-2. Seattle, Lynch 25-98, Wilson 3-18, Washington 1-11.
PASSING—Green Bay, Rodgers 26-39-0-223. Seattle, Wilson 10-21-0-130.
RECEIVING—Green Bay, G.Jennings 6-35, Ja.Jones 5-55, Finley 4-60, Benson 4-19, Kuhn 3-25, Nelson 2-19, D.Williams 1-11, Cobb 1-(minus 1). Seattle, Tate 3-68, Miller 2-12, Rice 1-22, Martin 1-10, McCoy 1-9, Obomanu 1-8, Lynch 1-1.
MISSED FIELD GOALS—None.
