Did Refs Miss Forward-Progress Call on Big Chris Johnson Run?

Virtually everyone on the field believed a late third-quarter rush by Arizona Cardinals running back Chris Johnson ended with a short gain. Well, everybody except Johnson and the Monday Night Football officials.

Before his Cardinals teammates, the defenders and even the broadcast crew realized it, Johnson was off to the races. He scampered for 62 yards before Baltimore Ravens safety Will Hill came to the rescue, dragging him down just yards shy of the goal line.

The Ravens appeared to have Johnson wrapped up for a short four-yard gain, halting him with a host of defenders while defensive tackle Brandon Williams pulled him down by the waist. As Johnson got brought down, however, he rolled over Williams and kept his knees off the ground—which the referees ruled as a live ball.

NFL Network captured a shot of the play in question:

A quick conversation between Ravens head coach John Harbaugh—flailing the red challenge flag—and a referee didn't keep the Cardinals from sprinting down the field and running a quick play to negate any review opportunity. The ref tapped his knees, as if to indicate Johnson's knees didn't come close to hitting the turf.

He was right in that regard—his knees weren't down. But did Johnson's forward progress get halted enough that the officials blew the call?

According to the NFL rules, yes.

The official NFL playing rules guide outlines many instances that a play should be declared dead, which includes "when a runner is held or otherwise restrained so that his forward progress ends."

In real time, it appeared Johnson's forward momentum completely stopped for at least two seconds, during which time Williams dragged him down to the ground. Multiple Ravens players chose not to engage in the play, probably fearing a late hit call or unnecessary contact.

The Ravens' team Twitter account obviously thought it was a blown call, judging by their description of the play:

Baltimore wasn't alone in feeling like the officials missed a very important call. Also chiming in was former NFL player Brian Dawkins, who also agreed the momentum absolutely stopped:

The Ravens did find a way to limit the damage from that fateful play. After being brought down inside the 10-yard line, Johnson and the Cardinals couldn't punch it in and had to settle for three points. 

But those three points still put Arizona up 20-10 heading into the fourth quarter. It took the Cardinals from being stuck in their own territory into perfect position to pad their lead.

Missed calls are nothing new in sports, and especially in the NFL. Every time a play like Johnson's 62-yard rush takes place, it puts the magnifying glass squarely on the league's epidemic of inconsistent, questionable and sometimes head-scratching officiating.