With 3:11 left in the game in Indianapolis, the Colts lined up for a huge field goal from 50 yards out. Make it and it’s a two-score game. Miss it and the Raiders need just one touchdown to tie.
Colts kicker Matt Gay sent the kick away and it doinked off the right upright. But there was a flag on the field. Raiders cornerback Jack Jones was called for offsides, wiping away the missed field goal and moving the ball five yards closer.
With the second chance from 45 yards out, Gay split the uprights, giving the Colts a 23-13 lead. A back breaker.
The thing is, though, from the looks of it, that wasn’t offsides by Jones. Take a look:
Yea dude thats just a good get off pic.twitter.com/Vj4im2pS9C
— Devon DeLeon (@DevonTDeLeon) December 31, 2023
Jones is clearly not lined up offsides. Then the ball is snapped at the exact same time Jones goes. Perfectly timed. Hard to see how that could be legitimately deemed an offsides.
Raiders head coach Antonio Pierce was careful not to say anything to get himself fined after the game when asked about the offsides call.
“I didn’t see it,” said Pierce. “They called it. Obviously something happened for them to call it. It was too close.”
The Raiders offense drove down the field to score a touchdown, but it wasn’t for the tie, it was to pull to within three points. Therefore they needed an onsides kick and the Colts recovered to end it.
Obviously, this isn’t a simple mathematical equation as both teams would have played differently in the ensuing drive knowing the Raiders only needed a touchdown to tie it. But it has to be frustrating to not have that chance due to a bad call by the officials.