With the 2026 NFL Playoffs providing a bunch of classic games, the Los Angeles Rams and Seattle Seahawks are locked in another close divisional battle as they face off for the third time this season.
However, while the defenses have prevailed in the first two quarters, it seems the refs missed a blatant call on the Seahawks during a sack of Rams QB Matthew Stafford. With the drive coming to an end instead of getting another four downs, fans were quick to blast the refs for failing to throw the flag.
NFL Fans Explode as Refs Miss Blatant Face Mask on Seahawks Defense vs. Rams
With these franchises battling back and forth all season, every call and mistake is magnified. While both teams have played clean on turnovers, the refs played a huge role early. While many fault the refs for bad calls, the Rams were victims of refs who stayed out of the play altogether.
After the Seahawks took a 10-3 lead near the end of the first quarter, the Rams attempted to answer with a scoring drive of their own. While they were able to end the drive with a field goal, cutting the lead to 10-6, a missed facemask during a sack of Stafford drew the ire of many.
As this video clearly shows, Seahawks defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence went to bring Stafford down, and he grabbed the Rams signal-caller by the facemask as Stafford coughed up the football. Thankfully, Los Angeles would hop back on top of the football, but they should’ve gotten a new set of downs in the red zone.
Looks like a clear missed facemask call on that sack fumble…pic.twitter.com/oXnvVKtrRo
— JPA (@jasrifootball) January 26, 2026
Whether bad or missed, the NFL refs have been under a microscope this season after a litany of questionable calls. As FS1’s Derek Clark explained, “NFL refs get paid way too much to miss easy calls. This is the NFC Championship. All eyes in the stadium are on the QB. How do the refs miss an obvious facemask on Matthew Stafford? These are the kinds of (missed) calls that can alter the outcome of games. PAY ATTENTION!”
NFL refs get paid way too much to miss easy calls. This is the NFC Championship. All eyes in the stadium are on the QB. How do the refs miss an obvious facemask on Matthew Stafford? These are the kinds of (missed) calls that can alter the outcome of games. PAY ATTENTION!
— Derek Clark (@TheRealD_C) January 26, 2026
Former ESPN and FS1 television personality Skip Bayless also couldn’t believe what he was seeing as the refs missed the obvious penalty, exclaiming in all caps, “How do the refs miss such a blatant grab of the facemask??? So embarrassing for the NFL in a championship game.”
HOW DO THE REFS MISS SUCH A BLATANT GRAB OF THE FACEMASK??? SO EMBARRASSING FOR THE NFL IN A CHAMPIONSHIP GAME.
— Skip Bayless (@RealSkipBayless) January 26, 2026
Another aggregator agreed, posting the clip of the facemask, captioning it, “The refs missed a CLEAR facemask on Stafford…The Rams are getting SCREWED by the refs.”
The refs missed a CLEAR facemask on Stafford…
The Rams are getting SCREWED by the refs 🤦♂️pic.twitter.com/2vbQvz22Lk
— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) January 26, 2026
NFL writer John Frascella said many fans thought out loud, stunned after watching the no-call, posting, “Nasty facemask takes down Matthew Stafford in the NFC Championship on a HUGE play. Wait…no flag? Seriously??? Rams were forced by the refs to settle for a field goal.”
Nasty FACEMASK takes down Matthew Stafford in the NFC Championship Game
On a HUGE play
Wait… no flag? Seriously???
Rams were forced by the refs to settle for a field goal.
pic.twitter.com/9M44j1jt6w— John Frascella (Football) (@NFLFrascella) January 26, 2026
While Los Angeles would be forced to kick a 50-yard field goal, which kicker Harrison Mevis would bang through the uprights, they would hold the Seahawks to just two yards on their next drive and then drive 87 yards down the field in 12 plays to take a 13-10 lead.
Unfortunately, the Seahawks would score another touchdown to take a 17-13 lead into the locker room at halftime.
