Seahawks attempt onside kick to start overtime, then everything gets weird
The Rams won in overtime after this incredibly strange onside kick -- or maybe not onside kick -- attempted by the Seahawks.
James Dator has been covering a wide range of sports for SB Nation for over a decade, with a special focus on the NFL.
The weirdest sequence in the NFL on Sunday came at the beginning of overtime between the Rams and Seahawks. Seattle attempted an onside kick, which was quickly recovered by the Rams -- then things got weird.
The wind left the Edward Jones Dome when referees announced that an invalid fair catch signal would cause the ball to be re-kicked. Referee Jeff Triplette asserted that the ball was kicked directly into the ground, which made the call invalid, thereby causing a 5-yard penalty and a re-kick by Seattle -- this would have given up the huge field position advantage the Rams gained.
Referees huddled while the crowd booed. Replay made it clear the ball was never kicked into the ground, but rather straight in the air off the tee. Triplette returned to address the crowd confirming that the ball went into the air and giving the ball to the Rams.
It was the right call, but a very weird way to get there.
Pete Carroll later denied that he called for the onside kick, saying it was just a flubbed squib attempt by Steven Hauschka, which Hauschka confirmed. The Rams used their great field position to kick a field goal on the first possession of overtime, and the Seahawks failed to answer back when Marshawn Lynch's fourth down attempt was stopped. So this kick -- and strange ruling -- played a key part in the Rams' win.
* * *
SB Nation presents: The top 2 picks both begin their careers with TD passes for the Titans
