Alternate officials sprint in to break up brawl in Commanders-Eagles clash
The Washington Commanders showed their inexperience in the first half against the Philadelphia Eagles, giving up multiple penalty flags.
The first half of the NFC Championship game between the Washington Commanders and the Philadelphia Eagles had everything. There were big plays, poor mistakes, jaw-dropping touchdowns and even a fake punt.
We also saw two players going at it as Commanders cornerback Marshon Lattimore and Eagles receiver AJ Brown clashed after a touchdown. The Eagles had just forced home a TD when the two players squared up, grabbing each others' jerseys and Lattimore’s helmet flew off.
Tempers flared between A.J. Brown and Marshon Lattimore on this play.
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) January 26, 2025
Lattimore was called for unnecessary roughness. (📺 FOX) pic.twitter.com/fzwidO4W4b
The fight sparked a moment of chaos at Lincoln Financial Field with teammates and officials charging in to break up the two players. In addition to the seven regular officials, there were black-shirted ‘alternate officials’ that sprinted onto the field to help break up the Lattimore-Brown fight.
Follow live: Commanders - Eagles | NFC Conference Championship game
What are alternate officials in the NFL?
Alternates are not involved in the regular season action but they are added to the refereeing list for the postseason games. The alternates are an additional five to seven officials who are ready to step in if one of the starting officials is unable to continue.
The alternates are not involving in officiating the game but they are often stationed on the sideline and could step in to help out with on-field altercations .That was the case on Sunday as the alternates helped to break up Marshon Lattimore and AJ Brown.
Alternates are theoretically there to step in for injured starting officials but it is an incredibly rare occurrence. The last time an alternate officials was introduced due to a midgame injury was in 2007 when a replacement was needed during a Wild Card game between Washington and the Seattle Seahawks.
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