NFL explains Seahawks’ blocked field goal attempt

The Seattle Seahawks suffered their worst loss of the season on Sunday, and the icing on a sour cake came when New York blocked their game-winning field goal attempt. Instead of potentially making it a 23-23 game with a minute to play, the Giants recovered the blocked kick and returned it 60 yards for a touchdown to seal their road win.

Linebacker Isaiah Simmons blocked the kick by jumping over long snapper Chris Stoll, who was pushed to the ground on the play. Some online fans were quick to wonder if New York had gotten away with a controversial no-call. After all, it wouldn’t be unusual for the Seahawks to fall victim to one-sided officiating. Additionally, the league banned crossing the finish line in 2017…which many saw as a direct response to the successful attempts of Kam Chancellor and Bobby Wagner.

It turns out that leverage and contact with the long snapper are key here. According to ESPN pool reporter Brady Henderson, NFL official rules analyst Walt Anderson (via a league spokesperson) gave a detailed statement that can be read below.

As Isaiah Simmons (No. 19) jumped over the finish line, Anderson confirmed over the announcer that Gene Steratore’s statement on the broadcast was correct and said there was no foul because Simmons was on the line of scrimmage and no one was there used as a means of pressure.

Regarding the case that Rakeem Nunez-Roches (93rd) pushed long-snapper Chris Stoll (41st) to the ground, Anderson said through the announcer that “simply pushing is not a foul and there is no forceful contact with the head and neck gave.”

According to Anderson through the announcer, none of the aspects of the game are verifiable, despite it being a goal-scoring game.