NFL Head of Officials Tells Refs Not to Use Note Cards on 1st Down Measurements

Al Riveron, the NFL senior vice president of officiating, has told referees not to use note cards while measuring first downs during games, per ESPN's Adam Schefter. 

The issue came up during Sunday's game between the Dallas Cowboys and Oakland Raiders when the officials awarded the Cowboys a first down late in the fourth quarter of a tie game with the aid of a note card on a close spot.

Dallas would kick a field goal at the end of that would end up being the difference in its 20-17 victory. 

Raiders head coach Jack Del Rio did his best to remain diplomatic about the call and his team's loss. 

“I don’t want to get fined, OK? I’m not happy with the way things were done," Del Rio told reporters. "A lot of different situations throughout the night. They did the best they could. I had a different viewpoint. I saw air. It was pretty obvious."

An NFL spokesman told ESPN's Kevin Seifert that referee Gene Steratore using the index card was within league rules despite being "very unusual."

The Raiders had a chance to take the lead on their final drive when quarterback Derek Carr fumbled the ball out of the back of the end zone, leading to a touchback for the Cowboys. 

Oakland is 6-8 heading into Week 16, two games behind the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC West and Buffalo Bills for the No. 6 seed in the AFC playoffs.