NFL referee explains Michael Gallup's pass interference penalty in Cowboys-Rams game

The NFL clearly feels that Michael Gallup was in the wrong Sunday night.

NFL official Tony Corrente defended the offensive pass interference penalty called onGallup in the closing stages of Sunday night's Cowboys-Rams game, leaving no gray area in Gallup's offense.

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"I can tell you it was clear and obvious on the field, of a hand into an opposing player," Corrente said. "A full arm extension created that separation. In all situations that would be called. We're not going to allow that at any point during the game."

Corrente would go on to say that the penalty was "clear and obvious" and wouldn't put any onus on Jalen Ramsey's contact with Gallup.

The call wasn't inconsequential: The 47-yard pass would have put the Cowboys in field-goal range to potential tie the game. Instead, the Cowboys would end up turning the ball over on downs and losing 20-17 to Los Angeles.

The penalty in question:

From an unbiased third party, it seems like Gallup does get a little extra room with a slight push at the end, though whetherRamsey did a littleacting to get the call is up for debate.But such is life in the NFL, where penalties happen at breakneck speed.

In a real surprise, Ramsey believes that Gallup pushed off on the play, and that the penalty was "clear as day."

"Yeah, that was clear as day, in my opinion," Ramsey said after the game."I don't know what y'all saw, but that's what I saw and felt out there."

It was a debut to forget for Mike McCarthy as Cowboys head coach, as he came under fire for attempting to convert a fourth down earlier in the game rather than kick a field goal. Dallas also potentially lost tight end Blake Jarwin to an ACL injury.

The Cowboys will look to avenge Sunday night's loss vs. the Falcons in Week 2.