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The pass from Eli Manning sailed over the outstretched arm of Evan Engram, meaning yet another loss in a dismal season for the New York Giants, and their frustrations boiled over. Probably both with a non-call on what they felt was an obvious pass interference in fourth-and-goal from the 11-yard line with the game on the line, and with a season that was really over months ago.
Wide receivers Sterling Shepard and Roger Lewis Jr. exploded in anger at the non-call, with Shepard drawing a 15-yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalty.
Shepard was apologetic after the game for his explosive reaction, saying he did want to apologize to the official.
“It’s tough in that moment, if you’re put in that moment, you’ve been fighting your tail off the whole game. Pretty tough for it to end like that.”
Shepard couldn’t believe there was no call on the pass to Engram, who was in the back of the end zone tussling with Eagles’ defensive back Corey Graham.
“You can’t tell me that’s not a pass interference,” Shepard said. “My guy couldn’t even lift up his left arm. But I’ve gotta be better.”
Engram said he thought there as “definitely” pass interference on the play.
“Arm was kinda held. It was obvious,” Engram said. “I went for the ball, it was obvious that he kinda arm-barred me, but no call.”
Here is Manning’s take on the fateful fourth-down play:
“It was tough. There’s not a whole lot of great fourth-and-goal from the 12 plays. But I was trying to get him, I had him on a corner route, maybe I was playing some outside leverage, just trying to back shoulder it and give him a chance. Got it in the end zone and there was some contact being made, I don’t know, it’s tough to know if it’s interference, if it’s the call or not. You kind of just put it up high and give him a chance to make the play and we didn’t make it.”
No, they didn’t and it ended up being their 12th loss. In 14 games. The latest gut punch in a season filled with them.