The Seattle Seahawks missed what would have been a big interception late within the third quarter of the NFC championship game on Sunday night at Lumen Field. But the cease nonetheless set up a lengthy fourth down that ought to have given them the ball again with an 11-point lead.
At least, that’s what it appeared like till Riq Woolen received hit with an awfully-timed taunting penalty.
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Woolen was seen jeering on the Los Angeles Rams’ sidelines after the play, clearly celebrating the cross breakup that occurred simply moments earlier than. While it’s unclear what he really mentioned, it was sufficient for officers to hit him with an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty for taunting.
And, because it was a fourth-and-12, that gave the Rams a new set of downs.
Matthew Stafford took full benefit, too. He instantly discovered Puka Nacua for a 34-yard landing cross up the left aspect of the sector on the very subsequent play.
Just like that, Woolen’s taunting penalty ended up reducing the sport again to only 4 factors.
While the taunting penalty itself could be debated, particularly because it’s not identified what Woolen really mentioned on the sector within the second, Woolen shouldn’t have put himself in a state of affairs to even be penalized — particularly contemplating there’s a spot within the Super Bowl on the road.
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Clearly, a few of Woolen’s teammates felt precisely that manner on the sidelines themselves, too.
Thankfully for Woolen, although, it did not price them the sport. The Seahawks carried a four-point lead into the ultimate interval after which held on to grab the 31-27 win over the Rams. That formally despatched the Seahawks into their first Super Bowl for the reason that 2014 season. They’ll tackle the New England Patriots within the sport subsequent month in Santa Clara, California.