Seahawks Win on Controversial Hail Mary
Disputed play causes chaos at game's end, Seattle wins 14-12.
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Image by Otto Greule Jr / Getty Images
SEATTLE - The Seattle Seahawks completed an improbable — and controversial — Hail Mary pass on the last play of the game to top the Packers 14-12.
Seattle's Golden Tate and Green Bay safety M.D. Jennings both appeared to have the ball thrown by Russell Wilson as they crashed to the turf. The officials called the 24-yard strike a touchdown, and the play stood after video review.
Confusion reigned at the end as both teams left the field after time expired on the play but then had to be called back out for the successful extra-point try.
The play was Tate's second TD reception of the game, along with a 41-yarder in the second quarter.
Defense dominated on both sides, with Green Bay's Aaron Rodgers being sacked eight times in the first half. Defensive end Chris Clemons took Rodgers down four times. Brandon Mebane and rookie Bruce Irvin had two sacks each.
Seattle managed only 111 net passing yards, including the 65 on the two scoring passes to Tate. Wilson completed 10 of 21 passes for 130 yards and the two touchdowns. Marshawn Lynch gained 98 yards on 25 carries as Seattle ran up 127 yards on the ground.
Rodgers went 26 of 39 for 233 yards with no TDs. Cedric Benson scored the Pack's only touchdown with 8:44 left on a 1-yard run. The Packers ran for 84 yards, led by Benson's 45 on 17 carries.
Seattle is now 2-1. Green Bay fell to 1-2.
The call on the call on the catch was hardly the only development to put the replacement referees in a hot spotlight. On the play, Tate shoved cornerback Sam Shields to the ground just before the catch in what seemed clearly to be pass interference.
Replays also appeared to show clear interference by Tate against Shields on a pass play earlier in the fourth quarter. But the refs flagged Shields.
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