Commanders’ Terry McLaurin claims referee said he was lined up correctly before controversial flag

Following the controversial ending to the game between the New York Giants and the Washington Commanders wide receiver Terry McLaurin added some fuel to the fire with his post-game comments.

With just over one minute left in the game Washington lined up less than one yard away from the goal line on what turned out to be a game deciding play that was overturned due to a surprising penalty. 

The Commanders ran in a touchdown that would have given them a chance to tie the game, however the play was overturned after it was ruled McLaurin did not line up properly on the line of scrimmage.

Terry McLaurin motions to the referee and receives a thumb up before being penalized 

However, the receiver has since claimed that the referee had told him he had lined up correctly before the play, yet still threw the flag.  

‘I felt like I was on the ball the entire time. If you look through the game, I line up there pretty much every play,’ McLaurin said at his locker following the game. 

‘I checked to see if I was good the first time and he was like, “Move up a little bit.” So, when I moved up, I checked to see if I was good, and he said I was good.’

McLaurin went on to mention that that’s why he could be seen giving the official a thumbs up twice in order to attempt to make sure he was line up properly. 

Terry McLaurin (17) leaps to catch a pass as New York Giants cornerback Jason Pinnock (27) defends

The 27-year-old wide out was not the only member of the Commanders to voice his displeasure with the call following the game as quarterback Taylor Heinicke said, ‘He gives the thumbs-up to Terry, what the f*** is that?’

The call against McLaurin was not the only questionable call in crunch time as only two plays later the referees decided not to call what many viewers thought was a clear defensive pass interference against the Giants on the game’s final play. 

Despite the peculiar officiating, the Commanders’ No. 1 target still had a productive evening, finishing the night with six catches for 70 yards.

Both teams remain in the NFC playoff hunt following Sunday’s game and remain well alive in the chase for a wild card spot.

The Giants at 8-5-1 are set for a tough contest against the NFC North leading Minnesota Vikings, while the Commander face a NFC West leading San Francisco 49ers in matchups that could see both of the wild card hopefuls suffer defeats.

Darnay Holmes (30) breaks up a pass intended for Washington Commanders wide receiver Curtis Samuel (10) on the games final play which could have been called for pass interference