NFL Ref Tra Blake Admits He Didn’t See Sam Darnold Facemask in Vikings’ Loss to Rams | News, Scores, Highlights, Stats, and Rumors

The officers owned as much as lacking a facemask name in opposition to Sam Darnold late within the fourth quarter of the Minnesota Vikings’ loss to the Los Angeles Rams on Thursday night time.

Throughout a pool report after the sport, referee Tra Blake admitted to not seeing Rams linebacker Byron Younger seize Darnold’s facemask with 1:46 remaining in regulation which resulted in a sack and security to provide Los Angeles a 30-20 lead.

“The quarterback was going through the wrong way from me, so I didn’t have a great take a look at it,” Blake stated. “I didn’t take a look, and I didn’t see the face masks being pulled, clearly.”

Blake additionally stated umpire Carl Paganelli, who had secondary duty for the decision, was additionally unable to see the play as a result of motion occurring round him.

“The umpire had gamers between him and the quarterback, so he didn’t get a great take a look at it,” Blake defined. “He was blocked out as properly. In order that was the factor. We didn’t see it, so we could not name it.”

Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell told reporters after the sport it seemed like Younger “received a reasonably good quantity of facemask” there, however he wasn’t going to strive searching for consolation in one thing that wasn’t known as on the sphere.

Minnesota has now misplaced twice prior to now 4 days after beginning the season 5-0. The protection that had been taking part in so properly in the beginning of the season has given up 777 yards and 61 factors in losses to the Rams and Detroit Lions.

Regardless of being in a three-way tie for the second-best document within the convention proper now, the Vikings may discover themselves in final place within the NFC North by the top of this week.

The Lions lead the division with a 5-1 document, adopted by the Vikings and Inexperienced Bay Packers at 5-2. The Chicago Bears enter Week 8 in final place at 4-2. If the Lions, Packers and Bears all win on Sunday, the Vikings will drop to fourth.