NFL referee Derick Bowers. Kevin Hoffman-USA TODAY Sports

Watch: NFL referee goes viral for his Undertaker impression

By Michael Gallagher | Last updated Sep 10, 2023 11:37 PM ET

While the Washington Commanders 20-16 win over the Arizona Cardinals was mostly forgettable (the teams combined for just 458 yards of total offense with five field goals), the most notable part of the game had nothing to do with the play on the field.

Midway through the first quarter, as Commanders quarterback Sam Howell was heading out of bounds following a scramble for no gain, Cardinals linebacker Kyzir White leveled the 22-year-old signal caller and inadvertently took out referee Derick Bowers in the process.

Bowers didn’t miss a beat, bouncing right back up in a fashion that was reminiscent of former WWE superstar The Undertaker, who would regularly “rise from the dead” during his matches after being knocked to the mat, and throwing a flag on White for a late hit.

Ref got bodied but still popped up like the undertaker to throw the flag pic.twitter.com/70OJGDKQxP
— Big Cat (@BarstoolBigCat) September 10, 2023

When lying down, how often do you do the Undertaker sit up? pic.twitter.com/YtvHlIUo1d
— Greg, but KICKOFF (@Gregair13) April 12, 2022

Not only did White hit Howell while he was well out of bounds, but it was also a helmet-to-helmet hit as well. Unfortunately, Howell wasn't the only casualty of White's hit either as Bowers ultimately injured his left arm.

The penalty moved Washington from its own 9 to the 24 and helped spark a six-play, 91-yard touchdown drive that put the Commanders up 7-0. Howell completed all three of his passes on the drive for 16 yards and the score.

Down judge Derick Bowers is leaving the field holding is left arm and the officiating crew will go forward with 6 officials instead of 7.
— Josh Weinfuss (@joshweinfuss) September 10, 2023

White's lowering the head to make forcible contact flag was one of nine Cardinals penalties for 122 yards.

After trailing 16-10 to start the fourth quarter, the Commanders scored 10 points on a Howell six-yard touchdown run and a Joey Slye 33-yard field goal to seal the 20-16 win.

Michael Gallagher

Michael Gallagher is a longtime sports journalist based out of Nashville with a decade of experience covering college football, mixed martial arts and prep sports plus the NFL and NHL — specifically the Tennessee Titans and Nashville Predators. He’s covered several notable sporting events including an AFC Championship game, a Stanley Cup Final, an NHL All-Star Game and an NHL Stadium Series. Some of his past bylines can be found at the Nashville Scene, SB Nation, The Hockey News and Fox Sports Knoxville

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