Rams’ Sean McVay: NFL confirms late game penalty was incorrect

Dustin Judge
Rams head coach Sean McVay on the sideline vs. Cardinals at SoFi Stadium.

Rams coach Sean McVay said Wednesday the NFL acknowledged that cornerback Josh Wallace should not have been flagged for defensive pass interference on Denver’s winning drive Sunday.

The admission does not change the outcome, but it confirms what Rams players suspected after a penalty erased an interception and set up Denver’s winning touchdown with 47 seconds left.

The main development

On third-and-6 from the 11-yard line, Wallace picked off a pass from Broncos quarterback Bo Nix meant for wide receiver Pat Bryant. Officials ruled the cornerback had interfered with Bryant, wiping out the interception and moving Denver to the 7-yard line. The Broncos scored to win 30-26 with 47 seconds left, according to ESPN.

McVay said he submitted the play to the league office for review, a routine step coaches use to clarify officiating standards. On Wednesday, he said the NFL agreed the call was incorrect. “Whether it was or wasn’t right, that wasn’t the point,” McVay said, according to the Houston Chronicle. “The call was made, and that was what the call was.”

Bryant offered his own account of the sequence to CBS Sports Colorado, saying, “It was a little pass interference. I did sell it just enough to get the flag. But he definitely gave me a nudge that I felt, and I felt like I couldn’t get the ball,” per Sports Illustrated.

What it means

McVay made clear the league’s feedback will not affect the final score. “That game’s over with,” he said. “We’re a 1-2 football team and got to be able to move forward.” Rams receiver Davante Adams echoed that stance, telling reporters, “Me talking about it, saying my feelings on it is not going to change it,” according to the Houston Chronicle.

McVay said the primary value of the league’s response is coaching clarity for Wallace and the rest of the Rams’ secondary on how officials are interpreting contact through the “cycle of the snap.”

Context

The dispute drew comparisons to the no-call on Nickell Robey-Coleman in the 2018 NFC Championship Game, when McVay’s Rams beat Sean Payton’s Saints in a game marred by an uncalled interference penalty. Payton, now Denver’s coach, downplayed any connection Sunday. “I’ve yet to see one get changed either way,” Payton said, per Sports Illustrated.

What’s next

The Rams, now 1-2, host the 2-1 Philadelphia Eagles in Week 4. McVay said wide receiver Puka Nacua, who has missed two games with groin soreness, is expected to return to practice Wednesday and will be listed as limited on the injury report.

Defensive tackle Aaron Donald did not practice Wednesday because of a sore back, according to CBS Sports. McVay said it is too early to know whether the issue will affect Donald’s status for Week 4. “I wouldn’t want to say anything of that nature yet,” McVay said. “I’ll continue to have updates as the week goes.”

Reporting from ESPN, CBS Sports, Houstonchronicle and Sports Illustrated contributed to this story.

Dustin Judge is the Founder and CEO of Total Apex Media, bringing more than 20 years of writing and editorial experience to the company's growing network of digital publications. He specializes in sports, sports betting, fantasy sports, and digital publishing, with a focus on producing accurate, timely, and engaging content for readers. Dustin oversees editorial strategy, content development, and publishing operations across Total Apex Media while remaining actively involved in sports, betting, and fantasy sports coverage.