GLENDALE, Ariz. (AP) -- Replacement officials in Sunday's game between the Cardinals and Seahawks made a potentially crucial mistake Sunday, awarding Seattle an extra timeout in the closing seconds.
Seahawks coach Pete Carroll called timeout with 30 seconds left, but the officials had announced two plays earlier that Seattle used its last one when receiver Doug Baldwin was injured.
After huddling, then meeting with two representatives from the sideline, the officials determined that the previous stoppage had been on an incomplete pass, so the Seahawks were not charged with a timeout. However, under NFL rules, teams are required to use a timeout for an injured player in the final two minutes, whether the clock is running or not.
The mistake didn't end up having an impact on the game; the Seahawks failed to score on four plays inside the 6-yard line in the final seconds as the Cardinals held on for a 20-16 win.
"It was my error," referee Bruce Hermansen said in a statement. "We gave (the Seahawks) the additional timeout because of the incomplete pass stopping the clock before the injury occurred. When in effect, the clock has no bearing on the play at all, whether it's stopped or running, we should not have given them the additional timeout."
The NFL is using replacement officials while the regular officials are locked out.
