Instant takeaways from the Commanders loss to the NY Giants

3. The stripes are back at it again

No, the Commanders did not lose the game because of the referees tonight. They did, however, lose a chance to tie the game at the end because the referees decided it was necessary to intercede their presence into that finish.

Add that Washington could’ve been playing for the win, not the tie, if it wasn’t for a ticky-tack offensive pass interference on Washington’s two-point conversion attempt earlier, and it doesn’t sit right.

Frankly, not calling defensive pass interference on the last play of the game against Darnay Holmes is inexcusable in a vacuum. But paired up with all the less egregious penalties enforced like the OPI on Dotson, the illegal formation against McLaurin, or the holding penalty earlier on Cornelius Lucas, it is downright perplexing.

After watching the World Cup for the past month, where they have a near-instantaneous VAR system for certain penalties, it leaves you wondering why a multi-billion corporation doesn’t incorporate something like that. Why are games of this magnitude decided by humans that are prone to commit errors and not consistent across the board?

The VAR system in international soccer is extremely quick too. It is much more efficient than the drawn-out replay process that the NFL incorporates. That doesn’t even begin to call out that the spot of the ball is decided by referees yards away from the play. Meanwhile, first downs can be decided by two guys with sticks and a chain. Because that is how it has always been done, so why change?

Let me reiterate, the Commanders had multiple chances to win. And if that pass interference is called late there is no guarantee Washington even ties the game there. But they shouldn’t have been robbed of the opportunity to tie it. Even NBC replay expert Terry McAuley agreed.

It was a no-good, very bad night for the stripes in Landover, Maryland.