I was at the game Sunday and didn't get a chance to see the replay of the interception and ensuing return until last evening. That penalty and ejection on Lane was horrible. The ref said that Lane threw a punch, but I damn sure didn't see any punches being thrown. Not only did we lose the TD, but we lost Lane, and Rodgers took full advantage by working that side of the field almost exclusively in avoiding Richard Sherman.
Another part of that play stuck out like a sore thumb, which was the block in the back penalty. That was such a ticky tacky call, one that zero affect on the outcome as it did not even cause the player to so much as break his stride and occurred well behind the play. But on the other hand, WTF is Avril thinking? For one thing, that was Aaron fricking Rodgers he was chasing, and you know that the refs are going to put a bubble around him. Keep your meat hooks away from him!
Although you can't point to a play that happens in the first quarter as deciding the game, that one obviously had a huge impact in what turned out to be a very low scoring affair. I'm not one that constantly complains about the officiating and uses it as an excuse for our woes, but I sure hope the league office takes a look at those two penalties called on that play. Unless something else occurred off camera, they were two horrendous calls. Let them play, for crissakes.