Matthew Stafford getting favorable ruling in Wild Card game against Vikings has fans losing it: “They want the LA team to win”

Wild Card game between Los Angeles Rams and Minnesota Vikings saw QB Matthew Stafford get a favorable ruling.

Matthew Stafford getting favorable ruling in Wild Card game against Vikings has fans losing it: “They want the LA team to win”

Matthew Stafford gets favorable call from referees in the first half (Image via Imago/SS)

Matthew Stafford and the Los Angeles Rams knew beforehand heading into their Wild Card round that they would face a standout Minnesota Vikings defense. That meant he would not have it easy when trying to score to win.

Stafford shrugged off pressure from that Vikings defense and a gloomy family situation to throw a touchdown pass on his first drive. Then it was his defensive teammates who stopped the Vikings from scoring and forced a punt. The Rams started the next drive buoyed by their fans who flew in from a wildfire ravaged Los Angeles.

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Matthew Stafford stuck to his task and drove down 50 yards to stand with a 1st and 10 at the Vikings 21. On the next shotgun snap, the Vikings defense blitzed Stafford, forcing him to try and duck under two defenders in trying to avoid the snap.

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At the end of that play with his head parallel to the turf, the 36-year-old quarterback flicked the ball forward. It hit the ground, and referees instantly threw the penalty flag. Minnesota Vikings defenders and fans were ecstatic to have forced a loss of yards on that play.

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However, to their dismay, referees ruled it as an incomplete pass. They based their logic on the fact that wide receiver Puka Nacua was in the area. Therefore, it was deemed that Stafford tried to throw the ball to him. Commentators had a hard time digesting that as there was no chance the QB could even track where his wideout was.

Fans tear into NFL officiating for seemingly handing Matthew Stafford and Rams a lifeline

Fans watching the game at State Farm Stadium in Arizona and at home were baffled as the logic presented by the referees did not make sense. Rather, they pointed out that Matthew Stafford should have been penalized for intentional grounding or at least a fumble. As his arm was moving forward, the former was what made sense to them.

Winner of Rams Vikings will play the Philadelphia Eagles in the Divisional round
Winner of Rams Vikings will play the Philadelphia Eagles in the Divisional round (Image via NFL+/X)

But instead, fans felt referees were favoring the Los Angeles Rams. With the backdrop of the LA Wildfires and them having to relocate to Arizona for this game felt like the perfect script. Fans took to social media to call out the officiating, examples of which are below.

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Football fans did not have much to complain about officiating during the previous Wild Card round games. However, this situation gave them the idea that the league wants a Los Angeles team to continue in the playoffs. To them, the LA Wildfires and the big Hollywood market make it a brilliant script.

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