Football

Offensive pass interference call late in Cowboys-Rams game irks NFL fans

By Pete Grathoff

September 14, 2020 9:37 AM

Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Michael Gallup, right, makes a catch but is called for offensive pass interference on Los Angeles Rams’ Jalen Ramsey during the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Sept. 13, 2020, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis) Ashley Landis AP

The NFL’s first full day of the 2020 season ended with controversy.

Late in the Sunday night game, Dallas trailed the Rams by three points but the Cowboys got a big pass play to get into field-goal range.

However, Dallas receiver Michael Gallup was called for pass interference as Rams cornerback Jalen Ramsey defended. Did the refs get it right?

You make the call:

Apparently touching Jalen Ramsey is now offensive pass interference pic.twitter.com/pWs01B7Vl2
— Adam Patrick (@Str8_Cash_Homey) September 14, 2020

NFL Officiating tweeted quotes from referee Tony Corrente about the play. He said Gallup’s arm was extended to create separation:

Referee Tony Corrente on the offensive pass interference call at the end of #DALvsLAR: pic.twitter.com/YUpP78w1UA
— NFL Officiating (@NFLOfficiating) September 14, 2020

Fans weren’t buying the explanation after the game or when the flag was thrown. Here is what was said; some of the people who sounded off should be familiar to NFL fans:

Highest paid DB in history and biggest play is selling the OPI. #Ramsey
— Andrew Brandt (@AndrewBrandt) September 14, 2020

That was a terrible OPI on Gallup. That’s 50-50 hand fighting.
— Charles Robinson (@CharlesRobinson) September 14, 2020

Cool. Where’s the offsetting DPI since Ramsey was holding Gallup’s arm the entire time before the “push off”?
— andrew gibbons (@drew8117) September 14, 2020

Second ticky-tack OPI call wiping out a huge fourth-quarter play today.
— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) September 14, 2020

It’s nice to make $105M and have that OPI call made on your behalf.
— Ed Werder (@WerderEdESPN) September 14, 2020

That’s such a weak OPI.
— Geoff Schwartz (@geoffschwartz) September 14, 2020

So its that clear on the field but not clear on replay. This answer makes no sense whatsoever. Ramsey sold it the whole damn way. Thats the only thing that was clear.
— Frank Coppola (@itsmefrankc) September 14, 2020

We have to start reviewing pass interference calls.
— Andrew Perloff (@andrewperloff) September 14, 2020

Ramsey clearly throws his head back after to sell it. There wasn't enough contact to warrant a call that big at that time in the game. Let the players decide the game.
— Havy (@Reznorsboy) September 14, 2020

See... this is what is frustrating. This was "fine" in the second quarter. But we are calling a touch OPI with the game on the line?

We need some consistency, here. pic.twitter.com/Syoha2ADoh
— Marcus Mosher (@Marcus_Mosher) September 14, 2020

This story was originally published September 14, 2020 at 9:37 AM with the headline "Offensive pass interference call late in Cowboys-Rams game irks NFL fans."

Pete Grathoff

The Kansas City Star

816-234-4330

From covering the World Series to the World Cup, Pete Grathoff has done a little bit of everything since joining The Kansas City Star in 1997.

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