For critical two-point review in Rams-Seahawks, NFL got an assist from Terry McAulay

Seahawks coach Mike Macdonald identified the Week 16 victory over the Rams as a pivotal moment in their Super Bowl-winning season. The critical play involved a replay review that turned an incomplete pass into a successful two-point conversion by Zach Charbonnet. Initially ruled incomplete, the play was reviewed 100 seconds after completion, leading to a reversal that tied the game at 30-30.

Referee Brad Allen initiated the review after a call from Prime Video rules analyst Terry McAulay to NFL officiating analyst Walt Anderson, highlighting the play's potential as a backward pass. The decision was crucial for the Seahawks, who secured the No. 1 seed in the NFC and ultimately won the division. Without this review, Seattle's path to the Super Bowl could have been significantly altered.

The NFL stated that broadcast commentary does not influence officiating decisions, though McAulay's call was key to the review. The league aims to ensure future replay reviews are identified internally, without external prompts.