The Seattle Screwjob. Batgate. Batghazi.
No matter the name, Monday night’s game between the Seattle Seahawks and Detroit Lions ended in controversy when K.J. Wright illegally batted the ball out of the back of the end zone following a Calvin Johnson fumble at the goal line. The play happened in clear view of the back judge who initially reached for his flag, but decided against it at the last moment.
Dean Blandino, the NFL’s vice president of officiating, immediately said the call should have been made. Other experts, like former referee Gerry Austin and Mike Pereira also weighed in, saying it was a judgement call, but a simple, straightforward rule:
“A player may not bat or punch a loose ball (that has touched the ground) in an direction, if it is in either end zone.”
The rule is simple. A player cannot bat a loose ball(fumble) in ANY direction when it is end the
— Mike Pereira (@MikePereira) October 6, 2015
I said on @FS1 that the back judge saw it as you could see him reach for the flag. He felt it was inadvertant. Unfortunatly, it was not
— Mike Pereira (@MikePereira) October 6, 2015
If you can’t count on the officials to know the rules, well then what’s the point? Even worse, it appears the ref knew the rule and was like “nah, forget it, not today”
Unsurprisingly, Lions fans (and NFL fans in general) were irate at the botched call and took to Twitter to unleash their fury (and memes).
Bahahaha RT @therealRobD: Figured it out… #Seahawks #KamSavestheDay #paytheman @Kam_Chancellor @KJ_WRIGHT34 http://t.co/aaux2h45Mv
— KJ Wright (@KJ_WRIGHT34) October 6, 2015
Maybe this is what happened? pic.twitter.com/y1ElaWsWlJ
— Zach Harper (@talkhoops) October 6, 2015
https://twitter.com/MHB05/status/651361319338291201
https://twitter.com/WorldofIsaac/status/651241314424627200
https://twitter.com/B_New7/status/651248024518270977
— Out of Bounds (@SI_outofbounds) October 6, 2015
Patriots clinched a 2013 win after correct illegal batting call http://t.co/m4ifLcbL6v
— ProFootballTalk (@ProFootballTalk) October 6, 2015
@TonyPaul1984 does it appear that the ref started to think about pulling flag out to you? pic.twitter.com/0yhr3yRg2T
— -J (@jevygurl) October 6, 2015
"Dear Lions, we made a bad call that cost you the game…again"
Sincerely You know who— A2🇺🇸 🇦🇲🇲🇰 (@gorgood76) October 6, 2015
For the NFL and the Lions, this becomes the Bat Outta Hell.
— Skip Bayless (@RealSkipBayless) October 6, 2015
Im boycotting the NFL over the atrocous state of officiating for the next two days
— PFT Commenter (@PFTCommenter) October 6, 2015
Hey @spiceadams…it wasn't intentionally batted out #truth #DETvsSEA pic.twitter.com/WJtqq9eWo2
— Ben Hutchison (@Ben__Hutchison) October 6, 2015
@WorldofIsaac I hear ya man. I made these after the #GB #SEA fiasco. Awesome to see the #NFL progress. #facepalm pic.twitter.com/wmC6a249AT
— Phil (@MTL_WINGS) October 6, 2015
Oh my god, it is a fumble. That's the Lions in an all time historic way.
— Bob Wojnowski (@bobwojnowski) October 6, 2015
Well the @Lions got hosed again. #BatGate pic.twitter.com/4DCI6e7ksV
— 96.3 WDVD (@963WDVD) October 6, 2015
I'm sorry… But all I can see in this photo is the expression on her face. #BatGate pic.twitter.com/lopxB6mhcB
— Tim Williams (@realtimwilliams) October 6, 2015
https://twitter.com/DatBandWagon/status/651245807841185792
There's only one explanation #BatGate pic.twitter.com/qclAKAX9gK
— Jacob Liberati (@Jacob_Liberati) October 6, 2015
