Minnesota Vikings vs Rams Ends on Most Egregious No-Call Facemask Penalty in Football History

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Sam Darnold sacked by Jared Verse - Minnesota Vikings at Los Angeles Rams
Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images

The Minnesota Vikings just lost to the Los Angeles Rams, in what was by far the worst played game of their 2024 season. The final score was 30-20, and it was a complete failure on both sides of the football for the Vikings.

There were stupid mistakes and even dumber penalties. From pass interference, to illegal formation, Kevin O’Connell’s less than disciplined group committed a total of nine penalties, for 50 yards.

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The Minnesota Vikings scored touchdowns on their first two drives of the game. After that, they failed to punch it in for seven the rest of the night, instead settling for two field goals in the final three quarters. It was an ugly, ugly loss and one that requires this team to look itself in the mirror, over the next 10 days, before they resume their season on November 3.

Sam Darnold - Minnesota Vikings at Los Angeles Rams
Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images

There, I wrote three paragraphs without complaining about the referees in tonight’s game. Because the referees did not lose this game for our Vikings. Let’s make that clear, before we move forward. But holy moly, were the zebras bad tonight. Almost as bad as the Minnesota Vikings.

Minnesota Vikings lose on egregious no-call facemask penalty

But no call on the night was worse than what happened on the purple’s final offensive play of the game. Sam Darnold, who was 18-of-25 (72%) for 240 yards, 2 TD and 0 INT on the night, dropped back into his own endzone, where he held onto the football for far too long, before pressure came from the left side.

That forced Darnold to step up in the pocket where he then saw 258 lb EDGE Byron Young hurling towards him. Sam dipped and Young hooked onto the left side of Darnold’s facemask, which caused the Minnesota Vikings quarterback to spin down to the ground. It was a clear and obvious 15-yard penalty and a first down for the Vikings. Except… it wasn’t called. So instead, it was a safety, and the dagger in Thursday’s game.

Again, this game is not on the referees. The Vikings did not deserve to win tonight. They were outplayed, outhustled and outmuscled by the Los Angeles Rams. But there is absolutely no way this facemask penalty is missed against any team outside of Minnesota.

How in the world does this missed call happen…?

I mean, the situation makes the missed call even worse. All referees are in pretty tight, given the Minnesota Vikings were backed up into their own endzone. That means all of the refs should have been well-within naked-eye viewing distance of the obvious penalty.

Not only that, but the facemask was committed against the quarterback, while he had the ball in his hands. I know all of the refs have specific jobs during a play and that not every single zebra on the field is watching the quarterback. The pool report, after tonight’s game, said that the refs just didn’t see it.

But you have to think there are multiple sets of eyes focused in on the guy with the football. You know, the most protected player in all of sports. Well, unless he’s playing for the Minnesota Vikings and the game is on the line.

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Then… the same referees who made Thursday night about themselves for the better part of 60 minutes all suddenly lose their flags during the biggest moment and most obvious penalty of the entire game. How? Minnesota, that’s how.

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