​Nobody Will Remember Seahawks-Falcons Classic Because NFL Replay System is Dumb

The hottest offense in the NFL met a perennially fierce defense in football's most intimidating fortress, and the result was a classic battle with jawdropping plays and dramatic lead swings, and we won't remember any of it because the stupid NFL is stupid and pass interference isn't reviewable. Instead, all of America's water coolers and social media networks are popping (and popping off) about Richard Sherman getting away with this obvious interference with Julio Jones' attempt to catch a game-saving fourth-down hero ball.

So nevermind that Julio had a spectacular day against the Legion of Boom, catching seven passes for 139 yards and a score. Forget that he spearheaded a three-touchdown Falcons rally, turning a 17-3 halftime deficit into a 24-17 fourth-quarter lead. Forget, even, that the Seahawks' game-winning scoring drive was set up when a Matt Ryan pass bounced off his fingertips and into safety Earl Thomas' hands:

Julio can't hang on.
But Earl Thomas can…@Seahawks ball.
Going the other way. #ATLvsSEA https://t.co/np1VyEHM8q
— NFL (@NFL) October 16, 2016

No, forget all of that, because we need to haul out the tired debate about the league, its officials, how difficult it is to officiate the modern game and how every dang person watching knew that was pass interference except the people whose job it was to make the call. The only reasonable conclusion is that every call an official can make should be subject to official review.

As one Twitter wag put it, "The CFL does it and the children of Canada remain safe."

But instead of reveling in the Seahawks' dominant first half, exalting Matt Ryan's incredible third-quarter performance or the Seahawks' valiant answer, we get another brick in the NFL's officiating wall. Instead of the Falcons getting a 1st-and-10 on the Seahawks' 35-yard line with 1:32 on the clock, we got four kneeldowns and a gnawing hunger for more.

Instead of the football world questioning the Seahawks' decision to let a kicker who'd missed two kicks already boot it on 4th-and-3 from the Falcons' 26, we get Pete Carroll gladhanding the universe and the Seahawks tightening their grip on the NFC West.

Instead of everybody talking about the best football game of the weekend on a weekend full of good football games, everybody's talking about the league, league officials and the officials in the league.

That ought to be good for ratings.