It appears as if San Francisco was given a "fifth down" (that they didn't really need at the end of the day) that probably gave them four points.
The game was 7-7, according to ESPN.com, in the second quarter, about nine minutes to go.
3rd and 6, San Francisco has the ball at the Green Bay 10.
Colin Kaepernick is forced to scramble, goes out of bounds at the 6, and is hit late (try damn near clothes-lined!) by Clay Matthews. (Welcome to Week 1's Fine Blotter, Mr. Matthews. Please insert a check for $15,625 or so for that cheapie. Your FedEx is coming Friday.)
However, also on the play, a fight breaks out, and #74 for the Niners, Joe Staley, gets an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty on it. (In fact, amend that $15,625... I think Matthews might have to dig in for a bit more than that for the two shots to Stakey's face the refs didn't call... And, Mr. Staley, you aren't getting out of this one unscathed either!)
OK, so what's the down and distance on the next play?
Well, the referees decide it's... 3rd and 6!!! Even though all the action took place out of bounds, and, hence, dead ball fouls.
The problem is, even if Matthews is (as he should've been, if not ejected) penalized twice, by Rule 14, Article 8, all dead-ball penalties offset, unless Matthews (or Staley) had been ejected (and, even then, only the ejections apply). Hence, it should've been 4th and 2.
The redone third down gave San Francisco a touchdown. A fourth down probably would've resulted in a field goal attempt.
San Francisco won, 34-28.
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