While discussing the game yesterday, something came up that I was confused about. I am not criticizing the officiating, I think they did a pretty good job on Sunday, I just would like to know why....

We sacked Wilson, then Seattle was flagged for a late hit or something, either way it was a personal foul. The Packers declined the penalty to take the sack and the loss of down. Why did we have to make that choice? I thought a personal foul was tacked onto the end of the play.

Could someone help me out on this?

It should be irrelevant because there's no reason for giving up 2nd and 31. That said that is a good question which I don't have the answer to.

The official threw the flag before the play was over.

The whistle had not been blown when the foul occurred by their judgment. It was close.

Was not a dead ball foul.

Had the whistle blew the 15yds would have been tacked on after the sack.

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I don't get that answer. If a PF facemask occurs during the play, it is tacked on...

and if that was the case, why would it be a penalty if the play was still going on?

Facemask to the ball carrier gets tacked on to the end of the run. Illegal hands to the face like Clay did on the one play gets applied from the LOS. Difference is if the guy is running with the ball, they say the facemask might have prevented a longer gain so the penalty is applied to the end of the run.

I think it should have been a dead ball foul. It was a worse hit than Lang got flagged for against Dallas.

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I noticed that too at the time. Obviously they ruled it as NOT a dead ball penalty, or else it would have been tacked on. It sure didn't look like a face mask, and I'm pretty sure it was not called that. The Seattle guy just made a fairly normal hit, basically pealing the Packer off the pile, as I recall. If the whistle had not blown, that would have been legal; And if the whistle had blown, it would have been a dead ball foul. So I would conclude the officials did screw up. It either should have been 2nd and 46 or else no penalty called at all. Water over the dam now, though, I guess.

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