Second 49ers-Packers officiating error: Joe Staley didn't commit penalty

Tom Pelissero | USA TODAY Sports

SAN FRANCISCO — An officiating error gave the San Francisco 49ers an extra third down in the second quarter of Sunday's game against the Green Bay Packers. But the NFL believes the 49ers actually should have gotten more than that.

A league spokesman told USA TODAY Sports on Monday that Dean Blandino, the NFL's vice president of officiating, has determined 49ers left tackle Joe Staley "should not have been penalized" for entering the scrum and grabbing Clay Matthews after the Packers linebacker hit Niners quarterback Colin Kaepernick out of bounds.

That would have made it first-and-goal for the 49ers at the 3-yard line after the personal foul penalty against Matthews enforced. Instead, there were offsetting fouls, and referee Bill Leavy incorrectly gave the Packers a replay on third-and-6, rather than fourth-and-2.

"The down should have counted," Leavy told a pool reporter after the game. "The penalties were both dead ball, and they should have offset at the spot where the runner went out of bounds. And it would have been fourth down."

Rule 14, Section 4, Article 9, Item 2 of the NFL Rule Book states: "Dead Ball Fouls by both teams are offset at the succeeding spot, and the down counts, and any disqualified player or players must be removed pursuant to Rule 5, Section 2, Article 7."

Kaepernick took advantage of the extra snap, throwing a 10-yard touchdown pass to Anquan Boldin that gave the 49ers a 14-7 lead in a game they went on to win 34-28.

49ers coach Jim Harbaugh was miffed there were offsetting penalties at all. Replays showed Staley grab Matthews near the shoulder pads, and Matthews retaliated by twice thrusting a hand into Staley's facemask.

"Joe did exactly what we coach him to do," Harbaugh said. "When somebody's taking a cheap shot or trying to do something after the whistle, we teach them just to lock up. He did that, and then Matthews throws two punches at him."

The NFL agreed, and the play "will be part of the evaluation for the entire crew," league spokesman Greg Aiello said.

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