Coach Bill Belichick was not polite in pointing out that the officials seemed to botch a call that brought back a New England Patriots touchdown by punt returner Gunner Olszewski on Sunday.
Olszewski took his return to the house, with linebacker Anfernee Jennings putting a crucial block on Arizona Cardinals linebacker Ezekiel Turner. But the officials flagged Jennings for an illegal blindside block. Because the officials flagged the block, the Patriots’ drive started on the Arizona 39-yard line, and New England finished with a field goal. Essentially, the flag wiped four points off the board for the Patriots.
Here’s a look at the play.
Special teams coverage has not been an issue this season for the #AZCardinals, but the #Patriots are exploiting them today.
A punt return TD gets called back after AZ LB Ezekiel Turner was hit by Pats LB Anfernee Jennings.
Bill Belichick: "He's about to make the f'ing tackle." pic.twitter.com/sgNlQ9wrhA
— Mason Kern (@MasonKernMedia) November 29, 2020
Belichick felt the call was so egregious that he screamed at the officials immediately after they made the decision — and then he pulled the group together for a huddle to look at images of the play to show them where they went wrong. While no one captured Belichick’s initially furious reaction on video, the folks on Twitter did get a snapshot of that huddle.
And, yes, Belichick broke out actual photos of the play. (This man hates technology.)
Bill Belichick still letting the refs hear it about that Jennings block/penalty pic.twitter.com/pkDxnSTzw5
— . (@FTBBurner11) November 29, 2020
The rule, in itself, is problematic. The officials can argue that Jennings committed a blindside block. Belichick can argue that Jennings’ hit was essential in in scoring the touchdown — and not illegal. And they’d both have a fairly sound argument.
When the NFL owners’ meeting rolls around, we may see Belichick ask the league to reconsider its stance on the play. It makes for big blocks, like the one Jennings delivered, but if he can’t make that block, then the Patriots can’t score a touchdown on that play. There’s a fine line between player safety and inhibiting players from playing the game.
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