The NFL’s command center may need to upgrade.
The league did not overturn a clear turnover by the Seahawks since it did not have the proper video showing a muffed punt return by Seattle during its 36-24 home loss to the 49ers.
The ball clearly hit Seattle’s Dee Williams fingertips before being recovered by San Francisco, but 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan’s challenge went for naught.
“Once we had the San Francisco challenge, we were looking to see if the returner did indeed touch the ball,” NFL vice president of replay training and development Mark Butterworth told the pool reporter. “We went through all available angles, and we get the raw feed from the truck. And there was not clear and obvious video evidence that the returner touched the ball.
“After looking at all available angles, we made the determination that we were going to stand on the call because there was not clear and obvious video evidence. Once Craig (Wrolstad) made his announcement and they came back from TV, the network had an enhanced shot that they did not send at all until after they played his announcement.”
It’s not often that the NFL blows a clear and obvious call that is not based on judgement — so pass interference does qualify here — and Thursday’s botch raises question about its review process.
Thankfully for the 49ers and the league, the play did not affect the final outcome.
The 49ers led, 23-17, before punting to Seattle to open the fourth quarter. If the 49ers recovery had counted, they would have been set up with a prime scoring opportunity to extend their lead.
The Seahawks were unable to capitalize, punting after gaining one first down.
It’s clear where the NFL thinks the blame should lie.
“And, just to be clear, they did not share that angle with us throughout the review process,” Butterwroth told the pool reporter.
While no play had been run during the time the time the video become available, Butterworth said the NFL could not change its call at that point in time.
“I spoke with (NFL rules analyst) Walt Anderson in the command center in New York and what they’re telling me, they did not get our enhanced video that we showed, the ball touching the finger,” Amazon rules analyst Terry McAulay said on the broadcast. “What they had was the raw feed from our cameras and it was not clear and obvious to them it touched the finger.”
The Seahawks ultimately punted on their drive, sparing the NFL the crisis that would have happened should Seattle have rallied to secure the win.
The 49ers (3-3) now stand alone atop the NFC West for the time being thanks to owning the tiebreaker, while the Seahawks (3-3) have lost three straight, including two at home.
49ers coach Kyle Shanahan chose his words carefully to avoid being fined but made it clear the non-overturn surprised him.
“With it being ‘Thursday Night Football,’ I thought for sure they’d have a bunch of camera angles,” Shanahan said. “Once (staffer Brian Hampton) believed that it happened, we threw it, thinking we’d get some better angles. And then they just told me that he didn’t (touch it). And then about two minutes later, I heard all the guys in the (coaches’) box freaking out, saying they saw another angle and it was a fumble.
“They only know what they see, so they didn’t see what I think everybody else saw on TV.”