Seattle Seahawks faced backlash after being penalized for having 13 men on the field following a Jacksonville Jaguars touchdown, an unusual and controversial call that raised questions among NFL fans. The penalty occurred during a 2-point conversion attempt, with the head official citing the violation.
This rare occurrence, where a team is penalized for having 13 players on the field, is typically associated with accidental overloads of 12 players. The unusual call drew attention from fans on social media, highlighting the scrutiny surrounding such errors. The Jaguars’ quarterback, Trevor Lawrence, connected with wide receiver Tim Patrick for a 26-yard score, setting up the 2-point conversion. The attempt to increase the lead to six points instead of maintaining an eight-point deficit ultimately failed.
While the Seahawks were leading 20-6 at the time, the Jaguars’ offensive strategy was called into question. The game saw other key moments, including a 61-yard touchdown pass from Sam Darnold to Jaxon Smith-Njigba and a 11-yard catch by Cooper Kupp. Jason Myers added two field goals for the Seahawks. Jacksonville, coming off a thrilling win against the Kansas City Chiefs, aimed for their fifth win of the season, while Seattle, at 3-2 heading into the matchup, had recently defeated the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 5.
The incident has sparked discussions about the rules and enforcement in the NFL, emphasizing the importance of adherence to field positioning standards.