November 24, 2003

STATEMENT BY NFL DIRECTOR OF OFFICIATING MIKE PEREIRA
ON OFFICIATING MISTAKE INVOLVING GAME CLOCK
IN BALTIMORE-SEATTLE GAME

In Sunday’s game between the Seattle Seahawks and Baltimore Ravens, the Seahawks faced a 2nd-and-four from the Ravens’ 36 yard-line with 1:03 remaining in the fourth quarter. 

A running play gained three yards, but a flag was properly thrown against Seattle by head linesman Ed Camp for illegal substitution (tackle Floyd Womack lining up as an eligible receiver), stopping the clock with 58 seconds remaining.  Immediately following the play, Baltimore signaled for a timeout.  The Ravens were not charged with a timeout, however, because the administrative stoppage of the clock for the penalty flag supersedes a request for a timeout.

After the crew correctly conferenced and determined that there was no penalty on the play (because Womack had reported as an eligible receiver), referee Tom White should have re-set the play clock to 40 seconds and then started the game clock.  At this point, Baltimore could have used its final timeout.

The clock was not started at the proper time, which was an administrative error by the officiating crew.  Instead, the clock remained at 58 seconds until the next snap – a 3rd-and-one play from the Ravens’ 33, which the Seahawks failed to convert.  Baltimore then used its final timeout. 

Baltimore stopped Seattle again on fourth down and gained possession of the ball with 39 seconds left in the fourth quarter.

Baltimore used all three of its timeouts in the fourth-quarter – the first with 2:28 remaining, the second with 1:04 to play, and the third with 0:44 seconds remaining following the 3rd-and-one play from the Ravens’ 33 that resulted in no gain.