Uncalled holding fouls fuel another primetime comeback

[Woodman]

https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/12/09/uncalled-holding-fouls-fuel-another-primetime-comeback/

For the second time in four nights, a team trailing an NFL game by the score of 16-3 generated a pair of touchdowns with less than 3:30 on the clock to win, 17-16. For the second time in four nights, uncalled holding fouls helped the effort.

On Monday night (https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/12/05/missed-holding-calls-fueled-buccaneers-comeback/), it was Buccaneers left tackle Donovan Smith (https://www.nbcsportsedge.com/football/nfl/player/12154/donovan-smith). On Thursday night, it was Rams right tackle Rob Havenstein (https://www.nbcsportsedge.com/football/nfl/player/9290/rob-havenstein).

Pete Damilatis, a producer at NBC Sports, tweeted images of four instances (https://twitter.com/PeteDamilatis/status/1601157256816754694/photo/1) in the final two drives of Havenstein holding Raiders pass rusher Maxx Crosby (https://www.nbcsportsedge.com/football/nfl/player/51678/maxx-crosby), with the preferred move being a right forearm across the throat.

It happened at least twice on the drive that cut the score to 16-10, and at least twice on the drive that resulted in the game-winning touchdown pass from quarterback Baker Mayfield (https://www.nbcsportsedge.com/football/nfl/player/1873/baker-mayfield) to receiver Van Jefferson (https://www.nbcsportsedge.com/football/nfl/player/58426/van-jefferson). And it happened on the game-winning touchdown pass from Mayfield to Jefferson.

Here’s the video (https://twitter.com/NFL/status/1601068186320805888?s=20&t=OZKiapT1migb8HsiSxQ9yQ), posted by the NFL’s official Twitter account, of the final play of the key drive. The hold can be seen plainly and clearly. Havenstein releases quickly, but he holds the hold long enough to slow down Crosby, who otherwise was closing in on Mayfield as he was preparing to throw.

[POTLAND PSILBYLO]

I saw the hold on the replay. I was wondering if it wasn't called because the DL was too far so it didn't matter. Otherwise, holding called every play

[kgun12]

There is holding on every play and it amazes me how at the end of games it is either not called as in the two examples here or called like it was against the Bills in the Minnesota game. It so subjective on the part of the officials and can kill a drive.

What if they make it only a five yard penalty. That way it isn’t as muck of a game changer and maybe it’s call more uniformly? All I know is that it’s not ever called the same during a game and it seems that officials help dictate the outcome.

PI has the same subjectiveness but it seems of the most part the officials either call it tight or “let them play”.

[mightysimi]

The lost the game because of the idiot knocking the ball out of Mayfield's hand.