Linebacker Brian Orakpo wanted a holding call. Instead he got an explanation that didn’t sit well with him. On Tampa Bay’s game-winning 41-yard touchdown pass to Kellen Winslow, Orakpo was rushing vs. left tackle Donald Penn. His left arm was around Orakpo’s neck. Orakpo said he complained to back judge Rob Vernatchi to no avail.
“He told me he missed it,” Orakpo said. “For him to tell me that he wasn’t looking at the play, he’s looking downfield, we have downfield judges for that. … That’s exactly what he told me.
“That’s one of the most blatant [holds] of the season, almost like Dallas. That was ridiculous.”
Orakpo drew a holding call at the end of the season-opening win vs. Dallas to nullify a touchdown.
Coach Mike Shanahan said of Sunday’s no-call, “He wasn’t held; he was mugged.”
But Orakpo said he just has to keep playing the way he has been.
“You hope the refs will see it and make the correct call,” he said.
No extra down
There was confusion everywhere but on the field apparently on Washington’s last sequence of downs in regulation. On first-and-10 from the 12-yard line, receiver Anthony Armstrong caught a pass that was said to have gone for 9 yards. If that were the case, the touchdown pass to Santana Moss would have taken place on fifth down.
However, referee Pete Morelli told a pool reporter after the game that Armstrong’s pass resulted in a first down and therefore there was no extra down.
Special teams miscues
Linebacker Chris Wilson knew he tried to do too much on the fumbled kick return.
“It was a little wet out there, so I tried to grab it and get upfield and get as much as I could,” Wilson said. “I didn’t quite get it. I thought I had more time than what I had. … I have to keep the ball secure, and I failed to do that.”
