Stafford Reacts to Controversy from Rams Loss, 'Common Sense Should Override the Rule'

Matthew Stafford feels NFL officials should have used "common sense" to invalidate the Seattle Seahawks' game-tying two-point completion late in last Thursday's overtime win over the Los Angeles Rams.

"Sometimes, common sense should override the rule a little bit," the Rams quarterback said at the 2:55 mark of a Tuesday appearance on Let's Go! podcast.

Stafford continued, "I know that, I guess, by rule, that is the correct way to officiate that. Whether the whistle blew or not, I guess, does not matter. But for us, as a team, what we have to do is get on every loose football."

Rams outside linebacker Jared Verse originally thought he'd forced a game-saving fumble on the attempted two-point conversion.

Officials then ruled the ball Verse had knocked into the end zone was a backward pass, which turned into a game-tying fumble recovery when it was picked up by Seahawks running back Zach Charbonnet.

The Rams went on to lose 38-37 in overtime.

Former NFL official Terry McAulay wrote on social media after the game ruling the Seahawks made it into the endzone hinged on there being "clear recovery in the immediate continuing action."

McAulay described the fact the whistle was blown before the play was over as "completely irrelevant."

Stafford expressed some empathy as to the difficulty of NFL officiating when speaking about Thursday's call on the podcast.

"It just, it's the way it goes," Stafford said. "There's tough plays all over the league, when you look at it... they've got all sorts of games that have kind of had crazy officiating things come up recently. But, you know, it's a fast game that's happening in real time, and it's difficult to try and get all those things right."

Stafford continued, "I do think it is tough. I mean, I'm out there, I feel the speed of the game, I know what's going on, and I can't imagine being somewhat of a bystander to that, and trying to officiate all the things that are going on. I think New York's doing everything they can to try and help out when the time is appropriate, and the time is right. But nonetheless, it's tough."

Stafford's teammate Puka Nacua was recently fined for having less diplomatic comments about NFL refereeing.

The NFL hit Nacua with a $25,000 penalty after the wide receiver called out league officiating on a livestream in the days leading up to Week 16, then criticizing the refereeing of the Rams' loss to the Seahawks in a since-deleted social media post.

The Rams remain in contention for the top spot in the NFC, although the path is narrower following Thursday's loss to the Seahawks. Los Angeles could still secure the No. 1 seed by winning out over the Atlanta Falcons and Arizona Cardinals if the Seahawks, San Francisco 49ers and Chicago Bears each lose at least one of their remaining games, per Cameron DaSilva of Rams Wire.