The New England Patriots saw a penalty wipe away what would have been Gunner Olszewski’s first career touchdown on a punt return.
Linebacker Anfernee Jennings seemed to help Olszewski finish the touchdown with a big block on Arizona Cardinals linebacker Ezekiel Turner. But alas, the officials deemed the hit an illegal blindside block. That wiped away the touchdown, and because the Patriots scored a field goal on the following drive, it also wiped away four points for New England.
Why did the officiating team feel that was the right call?
“There were actually three flags thrown on that play,” head referee Bill Vinovich told a pool reporter after the game. “It was a block back towards his own end line, with forceable contact.”
What would proper technique look like?
“He would either have to shield him or use his hands,” Vinovich said.
After the game, Bill Belichick said he was “disappointed that the punt return got called back.”
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
That’s an understatement.
Belichick was so frustrated with the call that he brought out physical photos of the play to show the officials to open a discussion about the call. He was asked about the interaction and what the officials told him.
“Basically a blindside block. That’s what they called it, right? Wasn’t it a blindside block?” Belichick said, with a reporter confirming. “That was the explanation.”
It’s funny to hear Belichick’s indicate that, even after the explanation, he didn’t even know what the officials had ruled the play. Certainly, it’s not a compliment that he couldn’t remember what the officials ruled.
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