Wonder what Lord of Officiating Mike Pereira would say about this one?
An NFL spokesman acknowledged Wednesday to NFL.com that an officiating error gave the San Francisco 49ers an extra 5 yards on a crucial punt return Sunday against the Detroit Lions. San Francisco drove to the winning touchdown following the fourth-quarter miscue.
The mis-spot occurred with less than six minutes to play and the Lions leading 19-15. Ted Ginn Jr. fielded a punt at his own 25, alluded tacklers and took off into Lions territory before being forced out of bounds at the Detroit 40. When Alex Smith and Co. took the field, the ball was on Detroit's 35. Smith led the 49ers on the go-ahead drive in a game San Francisco won, 25-19.
"The officiating crew incorrectly spotted the ball at the Detroit 35 instead of the 40 where Ted Ginn went out of bounds," the spokesman said in an email to ESPN.com.
One day, robot officials will ensure none of this stuff happens. The down side? Said robots inevitably will turn on us.
