NFL Ref Tra Blake Admits He Didn’t See Sam Darnold Facemask in Vikings’ Loss to Rams

The officials owned up to missing a facemask call against Sam Darnold late in the fourth quarter of the Minnesota Vikings’ loss to the Los Angeles Rams on Thursday night.

During a pool report after the game, referee Tra Blake admitted to not seeing Rams linebacker Byron Young grab Darnold’s facemask with 1:46 remaining in regulation which resulted in a sack and safety to give Los Angeles a 30-20 lead.

“The quarterback was facing the opposite direction from me, so I did not have a good look at it,” Blake said. “I did not have a look, and I did not see the face mask being pulled, obviously.”

Blake also said umpire Carl Paganelli, who had secondary responsibility for the call, was also unable to see the play due to the action happening around him.

“The umpire had players between him and the quarterback, so he did not get a good look at it,” Blake explained. “He was blocked out as well. So that was the thing. We did not see it, so we couldn’t call it.”

This article will be updated soon to provide more information and analysis.