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This time, the close calls went the 49ers’ way.
Sunday night’s dramatic 26-21 win over the Seattle Seahawks was eerily similar to the 49ers’ last-second loss two weeks ago to the Atlanta Falcons.
The only difference was a few inches. Dre Greenlaw did against Jacob Hollister what Jimmie Ward couldn’t quite accomplish against Julio Jones.
NFL head of officiating Al Riveron was absolutely matter of fact when he described to a pool reporter the call that gave the 49ers the NFC West:
“(Hollister) is contacted. We see that he maintains control of the football when he hits the ground. Additionally, he doesn’t break the plane of the goal line. So, now he’s contacted, he’s short of the goal line and he’s on the ground, which means the play is over.”
It's a game of inches. pic.twitter.com/xYIeejm6Xj
— The Checkdown (@thecheckdown) December 30, 2019
While Ward’s low tackle against Jones allowed the Falcons receiver to move his upper body and the ball just across the goal line, Greenlaw’s tackle stopped Hollister at that level where he was holding the football.
Greenlaw appeared to make some contact with Hollister’s head, which the tight end lowered as he braced for the hit, but the on-field officials did not throw a flag and Riveron said that portion of the play isn’t reviewable, anyway.
The play just before that was a Russell Wilson pass to Hollister on the left side of the end zone, and it included a significant amount of contact between Hollister and 49ers LB Fred Warner.
The on-field officials never stopped the game to review, but Riveron says the league took a look.
Why didn't the refs review this for pass interference?! COME ON! pic.twitter.com/3r02j9gjIm
— Samuel Gold (@SamuelRGold) December 30, 2019
“We actually looked at it here in New York. We had a great look. NBC gives us a great look at the entire route. So, we actually did perform a review, but based on what we saw, we didn’t see enough to stop the game.”
It’s clear from the video that Hollister initiated contact against Warner, then Warner grabbed Hollister while the ball was in the air, but Riveron said neither action was enough to merit a flag.
“Nothing happens that rises to the level of a foul while the ball is in the air before it gets there by either player,” he said.
