Tuesday 8 November 2016 08:33, UK
With three seconds left in the first half, Bills kicker Dan Carpenter lined up to attempt a field goal.
Buffalo, down 28-14 after two quickfire Seattle Seahawks touchdowns, snapped the ball for a 53-yard attempt, but Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman jumped offside on the play, wiping out Carpenter in the process.
However, the officials failed to call unnecessary roughness on the play, which resulted in the kicker requiring medical attention. Though fine to carry on, Carpenter's stoppage forced the Bills into an additional timeout, resulting in Carpenter being forced to miss the next play.
Bills head coach Rex Ryan called for the team to spike the ball, wasting a play but allowing Carpenter to rejoin the action. He took the kick - now 48 yards due to Sherman's offside penalty - but it was chalked off due to a delay of game by Buffalo, forcing them back to the 53-yard line.
With the third attempt, and just one second on the clock, Carpenter failed to make the effort, sending it to the right of the posts.
Head of officiating Dean Blandino was quick to call out referee Walt Anderson's mistakes, highlighting that the game clock should have been restarted, which would have avoided the delay of game penalty, as well as the unnecessary roughness missed call.
The NFL have the power to suspend officials for errors in the 'administration' of the game, which could include not resetting the play clock. It is more likely that Anderson and his team will be moved to lower-profile games for the foreseeable future.
It is impossible to predict what would have happened if the foul was given, but the Bills went on to lose 31-25, and those three extra points could have ultimately changed the team's end game scenario.
The incident may cause the League to revisit the case for employing officials full-time. Currently all referees are part-time, but only last week New Orleans Saints head coach Sean Payton called the situation "madness".
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