NFC Championship
We will be live blogging the calls and rules interpretations from the Giants-49ers game.
If you have any questions or comments, use the comments section of this post, or tweet us @footballzebras.
Today’s crew is headed by Ed Hochuli. His crew contains members from other officiating squads that were rating in the top three this season. The full crew list is at the bottom of this post.
The New England Patriots and the New York Giants are headed to Super Bowl XLVI. Your referee is John Parry.
OT | 13:38. Both teams now have the opportunity to possess. We are now in regular sudden-death overtime. First. Score. Wins.
4th Qtr | 0:00 San Francisco would not have been able to advance that fumble unless it was recovered by the player who fumbled, Delanie Walker, so the play was dead as soon as it was recovered by Kendall Hunter.
Here is the Cliff’s Notes version of the new modified sudden death overtime rules.
4th qtr | 2:00. Forward progress was ruled prior to the runner losing the ball. The whistle also blew first, so no fumble. It is not a reviewable play.
4th Qtr | 9:22 49ers free safety Dashon Goldson did not get there too early on an incomplete pass to Hakeem Nicks, but did seem to have hold of Nicks’ facemask as he twisted Nicks to the ground. Goldson may have gotten away with one there.
Looks like we have “incontrovertable” evidence of the ball touching the kick returner.
Why was the umpire scurrying away from the ball when the delay of game penalty was called? The umpire was keeping the ball dry, and so he zips out as soon as the offense takes the line of scrimmage. That said, it looks like the 49ers were looking for the delay of game penalty, anyway, to give them more room to avoid a touchback on the punt.
First half. Penalties: Giants 3 for 15 yards (illegal use of hands, invalid fair catch signal, delay of game); 49ers 3 for 35 yards (unsportsmanlike conduct, unnecessary roughness, delay of game). Replay: Booth review on the 49ers touchdown allowed the call to stand.
During the personal foul call in the second quarter, members of the 49ers bench started onto the field, when someone wearing a blue jacket came in to maintain the peace.
It is referee Jeff Triplette, who is at the game as an alternate in case of an injury. (H/t to FredFan7 at Behind the Football Stripes)
Don’t tell Chris Webber, but calling a timeout when you don’t have one is not a penalty.
Victor Cruz flopped himself to the turf during his run after the catch. He knows that counts as giving ones self up: Odd ruling saves Cruz from being NY goat
Back to the unnecessary roughness penalty, two drives back. Two players locked up after the play and Anthony Davis lost his helmet. The officials gave both players a “there, there” as it was post-contact jamming, and more a continuation of the play. However, Vernon Davis for the 49ers came in separately, well after the conclusion of the play, and made contact which could not be ignored. Line judge John Hussey did not hesitate to flag that action, while everyone held their flags on the earlier post-play activity.
Rarely called, that is the signal for invalid fair catch signal. Blackmon’s hand goes over his head, which causes confusion. Correct call, rather than just giving him the fair catch at the spot.
Although I would be the first one to jump on Joe Buck for talking out of the opening normally not wired with a microphone, he is correct. It was, according to the league, “grandfathered in” as he said. But, more accurately, they crafted the rules around the Lambeau Leap to keep it legal.
I’m not sure Joe Buck was entirely accurate when he said it was “grandfathered in.” It was more likely used as an example of what is acceptable vs. what isn’t, much like spiking he ball or dunking it over the goalpost.
Ed Hochuli’s microphone was cut off after the replay description earlier. We were able to get the rest of the announcement:
Uncontroverted evidence means evidence that indisputable and not open to question. In equity proceedings, where it is clearly shown that a trial court failed to consider uncontroverted evidence, or that the finding and decree are clearly against the weight of the evidence, the Court may consider the entire record, weigh the evidence, and render such judgment as the trial court should have rendered. But the court will not weigh the evidence in every equitable proceeding brought to the court, but will only do so where it is clearly shown that the trial court failed to consider uncontroverted evidence, or that the finding and decree are clearly against the weight of evidence.
(Actually, credit to USLegal.com)
Regarding the unsportsmanlike conduct penalty on the 49ers touchdown: When you stand on a camera stand you are taunting your opponent. When Packers do a “Lambeau Leap” into the stands, you are not the focus, the fans are. Obviously, they did not want to legislate the Leap out of the game, but grandstanding yourself on a camera stand is not the same.
Jacobs was definitely short of the line to gain, and difficult to see real-time. They got this one right.
1st Qtr | 2:23 On a 4th down run by Brandon Jacobs, the ball was spotted about a half-yard short. After viewing the replay several times, the spot was correct.
Loved the smirk after he flubbed uncontroverted.
In Game 1, the announcement by Alberto Riveron:
After further review, the ruling on the field stands.
In Game 2, Ed Hochuli:
To reverse on replay, there must be uncontroverted evidence that the ruling on the field is wrong. In other words, you have to be certain. Here, the ruling on the field stands. It is a touchdown. The unsportsmanlike conduct penalty will be enforced on the kickoff.
Hochuli is an attorney during the week, so his courtroom terminology comes to the gridiron. Motion for the defense, denied.
1st qtr | 11:58. Despite “a lot of contact,” both players are playing the ball, not the opposing player. No pass interference.
Hochuli is officiating a conference championship in consecutive seasons.
Today’s officials, listed with their regular season crew chief:
- R — #85 Ed Hochuli (22nd year, 20th as referee)
- U — #81 Roy Ellison (9th year, Walt Coleman)
- HL — #28 Mark Hittner (15th year, Hochuli)
- LJ — #35 John Hussey (10th year, Pete Morelli)
- FJ — #4 Craig Wrolstad (9th year, Hochuli)
- SJ — #39 Don Carlsen (23rd year, Morelli)
- BJ — #46 Perry Paganelli (14th year, John Parry)
- Alternates — Jeff Triplette (#42, R), Jimmy DeBell (#58, SJ from Alberto Riverón’s crew)
Jan. 30 • 
Jan. 29 • 
Jan. 29 • 11 Alive News WXIA/Atlanta (
Jan. 28 • 
Jan. 15 • The John Murphy Show, WGR 550/Buffalo (
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I have a question regarding the flubbed punt last night… Was the giants player recovering the ball eligible since he did run out of bounds down the sideline and the first one to possess the ball?
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Rule is first one to touch the ball.