“Of course, us players, we’re gonna be a little biased, so we have our opinions,” Cashman said. “I guess it was replay assist or something, so usually those guys get it right, and I’ll keep my opinion to myself.”
Since the fumble was overturned to an incomplete pass, Greenard’s sack – which would’ve been a career-high 13th – was wiped from the board. The Vikings didn’t bring down Stafford with the ball again until midway through the third quarter, when outside linebacker Andrew Van Ginkel sacked him for a 7-yard loss.
Greenard referred to a similar no-call for intentional grounding in the Vikings’ Week 18 loss to the Lions.
In the second quarter, quarterback Jared Goff wasn’t flagged for intentional grounding when he threw one away short up the middle as linebacker Ivan Pace tackled him in the end zone. The ball did not go in the direction of the closest eligible receiver and instead hit a lineman in the legs.
NBC on-air rules analyst and former referee Terry McAulay said on the broadcast he thought it should’ve been flagged. It would’ve resulted in a safety and given the Vikings their first points in that matchup, which was only 7-0 at the time.
Adding to the frustration, Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold was flagged for intentional grounding on a similar play in the third quarter of that game.