Where do we begin with the officiating team from the Cowboys vs. Eagles game on Sunday? Actually, you could start on the very first play where the Eagles forced a fumble on the kick return. Kamu Grugier-Hill recovered the ball from the pile of green jerseys, but the officials said there was no clear recovery and Dallas got to keep the ball.
That was probably a good indicator for the rest of this divisional matchup. Ultimately, we chose the offensive pass interference call in the fourth quarter for the worst call of the week.
With 2:55 left in the game, the Eagles were trailing, 23-16. On second-and-10, Eagles QB Carson Wentz threw the ball to rookie TE Dallas Goedert. Goedert collided with Cowboys safety Jeff Heath briefly, but used a swim move to navigate around him before catching the ball, and running to the other end to score a touchdown.
But the officials didn’t see it that way. They threw a flag on Goedert for offensive pass interference, pushing the Eagles back to their own 15-yard line.
Just about everyone watching this game disagreed with the call immediately. Former NFL vice president of officiating told the broadcast announcers that he didn’t think that one should have been called. Goedert didn’t use his arm to push off from Health, and the collision was five yards from the line of scrimmage.
Others took to Twitter to express their frustration over the penalty.
In Dallas that’s is not offensive pass interference. Heath tries to jam Goedert and Goedert uses his hands to swim through.
— Dean Blandino (@DeanBlandino) December 10, 2018
The WORST call EVER!! These refs need to be heavily fined!! A swim move by the TE is Pass Inteference now?!! WOW! #PHIvDAL
— Terrell Owens (@terrellowens) December 10, 2018
This pass interference penalty had major implications. The Cowboys went on to win the game in OT, 29-23, and that win left a major hurdle in the Eagles’ playoff picture.