The NFL's vice-president of officiating, Dean Blandino, has admitted that play should have been stopped to clarify the down in the clash between the Washington Redskins and the New York Giants.
The Redskins were driving late in the contest trying to tie the match when Robert Griffin III threw a four-yard completion to Pierre Garcon, who was tackled short of the first down marker.
However, another official signalled to the down marking crew that it was a first down and the chains should be moved, although following an incompletion, the Redskins were shocked to find it was fourth down.
Blandino told NFL Network: "In this situation where there is obvious confusion as to the status of the down, play should have been stopped prior to third down and the correct down communicated to both clubs.
"This should have occurred regardless of the fact that Washington had no timeouts and it was inside two minutes."
This is the second time in just three weeks that a controversial incident has occurred late in a game, as in the Carolina Panthers' clash with the New England Patriots, Bill Belichick's side believed that they were denied a pass interference call.
Simon Sinclair
