Rams Lose To Steelers On Controversial Spot On Kenny Pickett QB Sneak, Play Was Not Reviewable

The Browns-Colts game isn’t the only one where the officiating was a huge issue.

In the Pittsburgh Steelers vs Los Angels Rams game at SoFi Stadium, it was the officials who may have gifted Kenny Pickett a free first down which allowed the Steelers to run out the clock.

Late in the 4th quarter, the Steelers faced a 4th and 1 and elected to try the ‘tush push’ QB sneak play to win the game. The referees ruled that Pickett was short of the sticks but then called out the chain gang to measure and somehow granted the Steelers a first down, eliminating the opportunity for the Rams to get the ball back and try and tie the game.

Replay showed that Pickett was well short of the first down:

After a measurement, Kenny Pickett gets the clutch first down 👀

📺: #PITvsLAR on FOX
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus https://t.co/iTs8HMaXlh pic.twitter.com/iY7fIfYQC2

— NFL (@NFL) October 22, 2023

WOW. Kenny Pickett didnt get the first down on this sneak, but the call on the field was first down.#Rams can’t challenge because they have no timeouts and #Steelers will kneel the game out and win.

Another game blown by the Refs. pic.twitter.com/iZcodyE9I3

— JPAFootball (@jasrifootball) October 22, 2023

What made the situation worse was the Los Angeles Rams were not able to challenge the call because they were out of timeouts and the play didn’t occur in the final two minutes of the game.

The win improved the Steelers to 4-2 while dropping the Rams to 3-4.