“This is Unforgivable”: Referee Shawn Hochuli and Crew Called Out Over Glaring Clock Management Mistake in Saints vs. Commanders Clash

The Washington Commanders (9-5) escaped with a 20-19 victory over the New Orleans Saints (5-9) on Sunday afternoon. Washington secured their win by stopping New Orleans’ game-winning two-point conversion attempt on the final play of regulation.

Nobody can deny the play was thrilling in nature. However, it shouldn’t have happened. Before the Saints scored the touchdown that set up their possible win, referee Shawn Hochuli’s crew made an egregious error.

They incorrectly stopped the clock for a brief stretch after a New Orleans’ fourth-down conversion with less than 10 seconds left in the game. Had the clock run continuously, time would have expired.

Refs stopped the game clock for 4 seconds when it should have been running

freezes at :09 while play clock ticks from :39 to :35

game should have been over

how can they make a mistake like this pic.twitter.com/aWyIGWb9Hy

— Warren Sharp (@SharpFootball) December 15, 2024

Hochuli, the head referee of the contest, was asked about the critical incident postgame. He told reporter Luke Jones his crew “mistakenly stopped the clock.” Hochuli also said the situation “[was not] reviewable”, but would not admit if he recognized the hiccup in the moment.

Analyst Warren Sharp didn’t mince words when discussing Hochuli’s crew, calling the mistake “unforgivable” and “unbelievable.”

this is unforgivable by Shawn Hochuli’s crew

the game should have been 20-13

instead, Washington almost lost on a 2-point conversion 21-20 because an official, per Hochuli himself, “mistakenly stopped the clock”

absolutely unbelievable https://t.co/PnYnV8In68 pic.twitter.com/q4B5N8xuwM

— Warren Sharp (@SharpFootball) December 16, 2024

Fans immediately pointed to the NFL’s sportsbook connections as a reason for the whole end-of-game sequence transpiring. According to Action Network, 77% of public bets on the game were backing the Commanders. A Saints victory, presumably, would have been a better outcome for sportsbooks.

Ha ha yeah the nfl isn’t in anyway connected to gambling! Lots of money won and lost on that one!!

— retiredinhawaii (@retiredinhawaii) December 16, 2024

It’s pretty obvious to everyone watching each week that they have a gambling issue. They ignore it, but some of these guys have to have money on these games. The stuff they miss or butcher each week is embarrassing.

— JT (@J1984T) December 16, 2024

it really makes it difficult to not believe there’s some sort of incentive for stuff like this. this is far from a normal ref mistake and sure played a big difference for a lot of people

— Drew Hare (@DrewHare12) December 16, 2024

Gambling ads are some of the most pervasive in sports these days. There’s no denying the NFL, other sports leagues, and sports outlets push those services onto viewers.

Errors like these make people doubt the legitimacy of the NFL’s product. Sooner than later, they need to hire referees full-time and establish a higher level of consistency both crew-to-crew and week-to-week.