Some of the dramatics in the San Francisco 49ers’ Week 6 win over the Seattle Seahawks could have been ratcheted down had the NFL’s replay review system operated properly.
In the fourth quarter the Seahawks cut the 49ers’ 20-point lead to 6 with back-to-back touchdowns. After the second touchdown, the Seattle defense forced a 49ers punt.
San Francisco gunner Chris Conley was blocked into the Seahawks punt returner Dee Williams, keeping the punt returner from catching the ball. Seattle was awarded the ball after 49ers linebacker Jalen Graham downed it, but the 49ers reviewed the play to see if Williams touched the football.
Enhanced replays on the Amazon Prime feed showed the ball clearly touching Williams’ hand. With Graham’s recovery, the 49ers should have taken over at the Seattle 18. Instead, the Seahawks retained the ball because the officials didn’t have access to all the angles the TV broadcast had in time to make the correct call.
While officials told ESPN’s Brady Henderson after the game they missed the call, 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan said the team didn’t hear from the league.
“No. You don’t get any apologies, but apologies aren’t that big of a deal,” Shanahan said in a conference call Friday. “Once it happens, you’ve got to move on with your life. Apologies don’t make it better. I’m just glad that it all worked out and just move on.”
Fortunately for the 49ers the play will likely be lost to history. The Seahawks punted on the ensuing drive, and San Francisco went on to secure a 36-24 victory.
Perhaps the league’s officials pay the 49ers back with a favorable call or two, but the club certainly isn’t going to hear from the NFL about it. The league admitted the mistake, and all parties will move on.
Ideally if the NFL does take some kind of action, it will be ensuring their replay reviews aren’t complete until every available camera angle is given to them.