Even if you didn't watch the Chargers game on Sunday, you probably already know how it ended: For the fourth time this season, the Chargers somehow managed to find a new way to lose.
In San Diego's 34-31 loss to the Raiders, San Diego's fate was sealed when holder Drew Kaser botched a field goal snap with just two minutes left in the game.
.@Chargers line up to tie the game with a FG...
— NFL (@NFL) October 9, 2016
But they fumble the snap! @Raiders take over. #SDvsOAKhttps://t.co/IBGX4v5JTq
As it turns out, Kaser isn't the only one who botched something big on the drive -- so did the refs.
On the play before the Chargers' field goal attempt, the officiating crew spotted the ball incorrectly and put San Diego almost a full yard from where they should've been. The mistake was noticed by Tom Krasovic of the San Diego Union-Tribune.
On the third-and-1 play, Melvin Gordon gained a yard -- which should've been enough for a first down -- but it wasn't, thanks to the incorrect spot.
OK, now let me explain that with visuals so that we're all on the same page.
It all started on a first-and-10 play from the Raiders' 27-yard line when Philip Rivers hit Travis Benjamin for a 9-yard gain. As you can see below, Benjamin's knee and elbow hit the ground with the ball at roughly the 18-yard line.
There's no debate here about where Benjamin went down because the ref who spotted the ball agreed it was roughly the 18-yard line.
As you'll see below, that's where the ball was spotted for the next play, which was second-and-1.
If you follow the blue line down to where the center has the ball, you'll see how close the Chargers are to the 18.
On the second-and-1 play Rivers threw an incomplete pass, and that's where things get murky. The next play, third-and-1, should've been run from the exact same spot -- but it wasn't.
For the third-down play, the refs marked the ball on the 19-yard line, almost a full-yard back.
Ironically enough, the Chargers had called a timeout after their second-down play, which gave the refs even more time to get the spot correct.
Now, you might not think that two or three feet would be a big deal, but it was in this game because on third-and-1 (which was really third-and-2 with the incorrect spot), Melvin Gordon took a handoff and gained about 1.5 yards.
If the ball had been in the correct spot, Gordon easily has the first down. Instead he fell about a foot short.
As you can see below, Gordon went from the 19 to about the 17.5-yard line (he needed to get to the 17). A run from the correct spot of the 18 would've ended at the 16.5 yard line, good for a first down.
Now, does this mean Gordon definitely would've gotten the first down if the ball had been marked correctly? No.
Also, there's a good chance the Chargers would've found a way to blow this even if they had gotten the first down.
That being said, it's not a good look for the officiating crew to blow something as simple as spotting the ball, especially on what proved to be the most crucial drive of the game.
