- Jackson, who was under pressure, dropped back to pass and kept retreating
- The official backpedaled to keep up with the signal caller but stumbled back
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Lamar Jackson took an intentional grounding safety after he tripped over a fallen official in the end zone, handing the San Francisco 49ers an easy opening lead on Christmas Day.
The Baltimore Ravens faced Brock Purdy and co. in the final NFL game of Christmas Day, in what could be a preview of this season’s Super Bowl.
But the highly-anticipated matchup got off to a bizarre start when the opening score of the game was handed to the Niners by an official taking a tumble.
Umpire Alex Moore was well behind the play when Jackson, who was under pressure, dropped back to pass and kept retreating.
In an effort to keep up with the retreating quarterback and avoid getting caught up in the action, Moore kept backpedaling but got his feet caught up underneath his and stumbled back.
Lamar Jackson took an intentional grounding safety after he tripped over a fallen official
![The referee stumbled in the path of the oncoming Ravens quarterback in the end zone](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/12/26/01/79333543-12900397-image-a-3_1703555929765.jpg)
The referee stumbled in the path of the oncoming Ravens quarterback in the end zone
![The safety handed the San Francisco 49ers and easy opening score on Christmas Day](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/12/26/01/79333535-12900397-image-a-2_1703555922226.jpg)
The safety handed the San Francisco 49ers and easy opening score on Christmas Day
The official fell backwards right into the path of the on coming Jackson in the end zone and the Ravens signal caller tripped over his outstretched arm.
As he began to fall to the ground, Jackson tried to unload the ball before hitting the turf but because it didn’t make it past the line of scrimmage it was called for intentional grounding.
Furthermore, as the incident took place in the end zone, the penalty was ruled a safety.
Moore was later appearing to smirk on ESPN’s broadcast and NFL fans on social media ripped into him.
‘That ref trippin Lamar Jackson got money on the 49ers,’ one fan account jokingly suggested.
‘Ref falling on his a**…tripping up Lamar…Aikman laughing hysterically at it…perfect encapsulation of reffing this season,’ another said.
![](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/12/26/02/79333861-12900397-image-a-20_1703557364284.jpg)
![](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/12/26/02/79333857-12900397-image-a-21_1703557367333.jpg)
![](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/12/26/02/79333859-12900397-image-a-22_1703557369936.jpg)
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![The incident had NFL fans furious as they slammed the official on social media](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/12/26/02/79333849-12900397-image-a-24_1703557379293.jpg)
The incident had NFL fans furious as they slammed the official on social media
Meanwhile another posted a slightly milder reaction, posting: ‘The ref laughing after tripping Lamar Jackson in the end zone isn’t great.’
‘The ref literally lost his footing and tripped Lamar Jackson. This is a new low for NFL officials. What else was Lamar supposed to do?’ one account asked.
One joked the referee’s trip on Jackson was tougher than some hits during games over the past week, writing: ‘I swear I saw softer hits called for roughing the passer this week than what that ref just put on Lamar.’
However, one fan claimed the fall wouldn’t have had that much impact on the game, sharing: ‘It literally made no difference lamar was about to be sacked regardless.’
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