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ESPN’s Joe Buck blasted the officials for missing a critical penalty late in the Atlanta Falcons’ 27-24 win over the Los Angeles Rams on Monday at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
The Falcons kicked the go-ahead late in the fourth quarter, giving the Rams the ball back with less than 30 seconds left and no timeouts. At second, Matthew Stafford took a deep throw to Tutu Atwell.
The pass fell incomplete around the 10-yard line as the ball bounced off Atwell’s right arm. The “Monday Night Football” broadcast then showed a replay of the incomplete pass, which showed Falcons cornerback Dee Alford grabbing Atwell’s left arm, preventing him from making the catch.
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Joe Buck on the field before the game at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey on November 6, 2023. (Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
“They might have missed a pass interference,” Buck said, watching the replay.
“I agree with you. He goes up a little bit with one arm, he keeps that arm down. I think it’s pass interference,” rules analyst Russell Yurk responded.
“Look at Atwell’s left arm and the grip here and don’t let his arm go up and grab. It’s a missed call,” Buck repeated.
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Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Tutu Atwell (5) can’t pull off a pass as he is defended by Atlanta Falcons cornerback Dee Alford (20) during the second half of an NFL football game in Atlanta, Monday, Dec. 29, 2025. (Brynn Anderson/AP Photo)
If defensive pass interference had been called, the Rams would have moved deep into Falcons territory with a chance to go for a touchdown to win the game or kick a field goal to tie the game.
Instead, there was no call and play continued. On third down, Stafford hit star receiver Puka Nacua on the sideline for what appeared to be a spectacular one-handed catch right at the edge of field goal range.
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However, Nacua lost possession while going down, leaving the Rams on fourth-and-10 with five seconds left. On fourth down, Stafford tried to connect with Nacua again, but the pass fell incomplete and the Falcons recovered the interference.
The Rams fell to 11-5 with the loss, but had already clinched a playoff spot. They can’t win the NFC West and will be the No. 5 or No. 6 seed depending on what happens in Week 18. The Rams play the Arizona Cardinals at 4:25 PM ET on Sunday.
