https://www.yahoo.com/sports/savvy-clock-move-by-alex-smith-confuses-refs-appears-to-earn-washington-3-points-002656807.htmlhttps://www.yahoo.com/sports/savvy-clock-move-by-alex-smith-confuses-refs-appears-to-earn-washington-3-points-002656807.html 

Wouldn’t that be considered delay of game taking the ball off the field?
Should have been a penalty, and the one second run off.
At least that’s what I thought.
Not that I really cared either way.
Just trying to point that out.

Originally Posted by: Cheesey 

Stopping the clock to benefit Washington was a mistake. As noted by former NFL referee and NBC rules analyst Terry McAulay, when the offense’s actions cause a delay in getting the ball spotted, the officials are not supposed to stop the clock. In this case, it was clear that Smith’s action of taking the ball with him to the sideline caused the delay, and so the officials should have let the clock run while they got a K-ball to spot for the field goal attempt. The umpire, who signaled to the clock operator to stop the clock, should not have done that.

Smith said after the game, “It was not intentional.” But intentional or not, Smith’s move gave the Football Team an advantage it shouldn’t have had, and was a key contributor to Washington’s comeback win.

https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2020/12/08/officials-erred-by-giving-washington-extra-time-for-field-goal-before-halftime/ 

Well looks like I was mistaken...

Not a good veteran move after all but a reffing error. According to this, the refs should have kept the clock running, even with no ball on the field, while they waited for another ball to come out.

And Smith says he did it on accident.

Originally Posted by: beast 

I thought it was a missed call by the refs. I thought I saw Smith laughing as he ran off the field. Makes me wonder if it really was "an accident". My kids when they were little had "accidents" all the time. He accidentally slugged his sister, she ate her brother's Halloween candy, they both accidentally kicked the dog. Stuff like that accidentally happens all the time.

Originally Posted by: wpr 

So, looks like it came down to the refs once again missing an obvious call.
You’d think these “pros” would know such an obvious call.
Heck....if I can catch that, they sure as heck shouldn’t have missed it.

Originally Posted by: Cheesey 

In addition, the referee now has sole responsibility for determining administrative stoppages in such situations, and the clock must resume as soon as possible.

https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2020/12/10/nfl-tweaks-end-of-half-officiating-procedures-after-stoppage-before-washington-fg/