Seahawks dodge penalty for illegal bat on Calvin Johnson's critical fumble

An officiating error may have helped the Seattle Seahawks earn a victory Monday against the Detroit Lions.

With just under two minutes remaining and the Seahawks leading 13-10, Detroit's Calvin Johnson strode toward the end zone and reached out to cross the goal line. Seattle's Kam Chancellor forced a fumble before Johnson crossed the plane.

Seahawks linebacker K.J. Wright subsequently found the ball and swatted it through the back of the end zone for a touchback, but he should have been penalized for an illegal bat.

Rule 12.4.1 of the NFL rule book stipulates it's illegal if "any player bats or punches a loose ball (that has touched the ground) in any direction, if it is in either end zone."

As a result, the Lions should've retained the ball.

NFL head of officials Dean Blandino stated postgame that the call should have resulted in the Lions keeping the ball.

''The back judge was on the play and in his judgment he didn't feel it was an overt act so he didn't throw the flag,'' Blandino said. ''In looking at the replays it looked like a bat so the enforcement would be basically we would go back to the spot of the fumble and Detroit would keep the football.''

Blandino also explained that the ball being batted out of bounds is not a reviewable play.

"I'm not going to even go there. Talk to the Blandino and the rest of the guys, they'll explain," Lions head coach Jim Caldwell said postgame.

It's an unfortunate error by the officials that will provide little solace for the winless Lions and their fan base.