Commanders held on in the end, winning 20-19
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NFL officials took heat on Sunday for an unwarranted clock stoppage during a game between the Washington Commanders and New Orleans Saints.
On 4th-and-3 with 17 seconds left, Saints quarterback Spencer Rattler threw a pass to Foster Moreau for the conversion. The pass got New Orleans to Washington’s 1-yard line. As Rattler and the team rushed to the line of scrimmage, a sideline judge inexplicably called for the clock to be stopped.
New Orleans Saints tight end Foster Moreau, #87, celebrates after he makes a catch in the second half of an NFL football game against the Washington Commanders in New Orleans on Sunday, Dec. 15, 2024. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
The clock stopped for at least three seconds as the Saints got to the line. Rattler spiked the ball to officially stop the clock. There were three seconds left on the clock after Rattler spiked the ball.
On the next play, Rattler threw a touchdown pass to Moreau. The Saints attempted a 2-point conversion to try to win the game but failed. Washington won the game, 20-19.
NFL fans noticed the clock fumble. Washington (-8) was considered the favorite going in, according to FOX Sports.
WOW...
— FOX Sports: NFL (@NFLonFOX) December 15, 2024
The Saints scored a TD with ZERO seconds left to get within a point of Washington!
They go for two and the win and... pic.twitter.com/1cIJTJ1kvy
Refs stopped the game clock for 4 seconds when it should have been running
— Warren Sharp (@SharpFootball) December 15, 2024
freezes at :09 while play clock ticks from :39 to :35
game should have been over
how can they make a mistake like this pic.twitter.com/aWyIGWb9Hy
This is inexcusable in pro football.
— Chad Ryan (@ChadwikoTWW) December 15, 2024
The Saints got 3.94 "free" seconds today, and it very nearly cost the #Commanders the win.
The clock stopped at the 9 second mark, and they snapped the ball at the 4 second mark.
Possible that Saints never get the next TD play without it. pic.twitter.com/iiJuSiMMJa
I've never seen anything like this before. Check this out in the Saints and Commanders game.
— Nick Newman (@NinerNick_22) December 15, 2024
The game clock mysteriously pauses for FOUR SECONDS with 9 seconds left in the game, even though the Saints couldn't stop the clock.
Time should've expired. pic.twitter.com/lTvxhEFkEa
2024 NFL PLAYOFF PICTURE: ONLY THREE AFC SPOTS REMAIN; NFC RACE DOWN TO THE WIRE
Washington Commanders cornerback Marshon Lattimore, #23, walks off the field after an NFL football game against the New Orleans Saints in New Orleans on Sunday, Dec. 15, 2024. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
Referee Shawn Hochuli was asked about the errant clock stoppage.
"The covering official mistakenly stopped the clock in that situation," Hochuli told a pool reporter. "The clock should not have stopped."
Hochuli added that the situation was not reviewable. He was then asked whether he and the other officials in the crew were "aware of the mistake."
"That’s all I have for you," he said. "The covering official mistakenly stopped the clock at nine seconds, and it is not reviewable."
Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels, #5, walks off the field after an NFL football game against the New Orleans Saints in New Orleans on Sunday, Dec. 15, 2024. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
Washington moved to 9-5 with the win and New Orleans dropped to 5-9.
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Ryan Gaydos is a senior editor for Fox News Digital.
