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ESPN announcer Joe Buck criticized the referees for missing a critical penalty late in the Atlanta Falcons’ 27-24 victory over the Los Angeles Rams on Monday at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
The Falcons kicked the go-ahead field goal late in the fourth quarter, giving the ball back to the Rams with less than 30 seconds left and no timeouts. On the second attempt, Matthew Stafford shot deep into Tutu Atwell.
The pass fell incomplete around the 10-yard line when the ball bounced off Atwell’s right arm. The “Monday Night Football” broadcast then showed a replay of the incomplete pass that showed Falcons cornerback Dee Alford grabbing Atwell’s left arm, preventing him from making the catch.
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Joe Buck on the field before the game at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, on November 6, 2023. (Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
“They might have missed a pass interference call,” Buck said when watching the replay.
“I agree with you. He goes up with one arm, he keeps it down. I think that’s pass interference,” rules analyst Russell Yurk responded.
“Look at Atwell’s left arm and the grip here, not allowing his arm to go up and catch. That’s a losing call,” Buck reiterated.
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Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Tutu Atwell (5) fails to make a pass while being defended by Atlanta Falcons cornerback Dee Alford (20) in the second half of an NFL football game in Atlanta, Monday, Dec. 29, 2025. (Brynn Anderson/AP Photo)
If a defensive pass interference call had been called, the Rams would have driven deep into Falcons territory with the chance to score a touchdown to win the game or kick a field goal to tie it.
Instead, there was no decision and the game continued. On third down, Stafford hit star receiver Puka Nacua on the sideline for what appeared to be a spectacular one-handed catch just on the edge of field goal range.
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However, Nacua lost possession of the ball while falling, leaving the Rams on fourth-and-10 with five seconds remaining. On fourth down, Stafford tried to connect with Nacua again, but the pass was incomplete and the Falcons pulled off the upset.
The Rams fell to 11-5 with the loss, but had already clinched a playoff spot. They can’t win the NFC West and will be the No. 5 or 6 seed depending on what happens in Week 18. The Rams play the Arizona Cardinals at 4:25 p.m. ET on Sunday.
