Pereira: Refs get the first big call of the 2014 season just right

IT WAS THE BIGGEST TURNOVER OF THE YEAR!!!!!

Wait, that shouldn't have been in all caps. The Green Bay-Seattle game is, after all, only the first game of the NFL's regular season.

But nonetheless, it was a key early play in the game that resulted in a go ahead touchdown.

It was an unusual play.

Here was the situation: The Packers had the ball, fourth down and 15 at their own 26-yard line with 4:44 left in the first quarter. Seattle led 3-0.

Tim Masthay punted the ball 38 yards to the Seattle 36-yard line. Seattle's Eric Thomas muffed the catch after Green Bay's Devon House got blocked into Thomas by the Seahawks' Richard Sherman. The Packers' Ha Ha Clinton-Dix recovered the ball on the Seattle 34-yard line.

No penalty was called on the play ... because there was no penalty.

It's not interference with the opportunity to make the catch because the kicking team player, House in this case, was being blocked into the contact by Sherman. Since House was actively being blocked and is actively blocking, there is no foul for interference whatsoever.

No foul, no illegal touching, just a straight turnover.

It was handled just right by the officiating crew, which didn't get involved in calling interference first and then had to talk their way through it to pick up the flag.

Six plays later, the Packers scored to take a 7-3 lead.

WELL DONE. (The call was that good, it deserves all caps).