Refs royally screwed Rams with missed call in fourth quarter vs. Eagles

The Los Angeles Rams crashed out of the postseason after a brutal loss to the Philadelphia Eagles, but they can feel hard done by after a missed call in the fourth quarter. Despite their best efforts to fight back on the final drive, it was too little, too late.

The Rams already had to overcome injuries and tough conditions to stay in the game, but the refs didn't help them out when it mattered the most.

Heavy snow eliminated long field goal attempts. Down by four points in the fourth quarter, the Rams needed to get a stop and then score a touchdown for the win. With a little under nine minutes remaining, they had the chance to get off the field.

Philadelphia faced 4th-and-4 from the Los Angeles 32-yard line. In challenging conditions, Nick Sirriani had no interest in attempting a long field goal and instead went for it.

Jalen Hurts completed a pass to A.J. Brown for nine yards, and by the time the Rams the next got a third-down stop, the Eagles had moved into field-goal range and converted a 37-yarder.

The problem?

The refs missed a blatant delay-of-game penalty. The play clock hit zero for what felt like an age, but the officials never saw it and allowed the play to continue. While the refs tend to give some leeway, this went far beyond that. Philadelphia had at least an additional second to get the snap off.

Rams can feel frustrated after missed call impacts the fourth quarter vs. Eagles

If we're honest, the Rams weren't good enough on either side of the ball. Hurts lacked mobility late in the game after appearing to hurt his knee, but Los Angeles' defense still couldn't prevent a Saquon Barkley 78-yard rushing touchdown to effectively end the game. Barkley had a 62-yard score earlier in the day.

But it still doesn't change the impact the missed call could've made, especially as the Rams rallied late in the game.

Had the refs seen the delay-of-game, it would've left Philadelphia with a 4th-and-9 and a tough decision. Do they still go for it? Attempt an impossible field goal in snowy conditions? Punt?

Either way, there's a good chance the Rams would've regained possession, down by just four points with a chance to take the lead with a touchdown.

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