Statement from NFL referees after controversial calls involving the Chargers

During the Los Angeles Chargers' loss to the Arizona Cardinals on Monday night, NFL officials took center stage on two key plays.

While Justin Herbert and the offense were trying to score their first touchdown of the game late in the fourth quarter, the officials caught a flag on third down that could have been pass interference by the defense.

The drive stalled, the Chargers kicked their fifth field goal of the night and lost 17-15.

After the game, referee Clete Blakeman issued a statement on the situation, according to Daniel Popper of The Athletic: “The decision was that the ball was virtually uncatchable due to the trajectory and landing of the ball. So we got together, three or more of us, and came to the conclusion that it was unassailable.

At least that could have been a wrong route or a bad throw under pressure from Herbert.

But the second instance in which the officials made controversial decisions occurred on the final drive of the game when rookie corner Cam Hart was called for unnecessary roughness. Says Blakeman, courtesy of Popper: “Essentially, it was helmet-to-helmet contact near the receiver's head and neck area that triggered the unnecessary roughness foul.”

That won't stop the legion of NFL fans from angering the officials about the call. The Cardinals kicked the game-winning field goal after the flag.

While the Chargers had plenty of chances to win on Monday night and instead had scads of dropped passes, poor tackling and an offensive line that couldn't keep up, those referee controversies are still very much alive in fans' minds at the crucial time.

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