It has certainly been a horrible season for NFL officiating, yes? No matter which team you call your own, you can point to one obvious example in which your team has been hosed by a group of officials that are inconsistent at best, and incompetent at worst.
Here at Touchdown Wire, we’ve written about the league’s awful product all season, but it’s going to be very difficult to top the no-call in the game between the Buffalo Bills and the Philadelphia Eagles for sheer WTF status.
Here was the situation. With 1:34 left in the second quarter, and the Bills up 10-7, Eagles edge-rusher Haason Reddick pressured Bills quarterback Josh Allen. In the process, Reddick tore the front of Allen’s jersey at the collar, and clearly grabbed the back of Allen’s jersey at the collar.
Jim Nantz and Tony Romo couldn't believe that Haason Reddick wasn't called for a horse collar after tackling Josh Allen.
Instead, Allen was called for intentional grounding, leading to 3rd-and-goal at the 16. 2 plays later, Bills kicker Tyler Bass had a field goal try blocked. pic.twitter.com/99WNA3LDNC
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) November 26, 2023
And that part of the play, per the NFL Rule Book, is a horse-collar tackle. Per ESPN’s Kevin Seifert:
And while we’re at it, a horse collar foul covers more area than some people realize: pic.twitter.com/MS4Db1KLzf
— Kevin Seifert (@SeifertESPN) November 26, 2023
Instead, Allen was called for intentional grounding, despite the fact that there were two receivers in the direct vicinity of his throw. Shawn Hochuli’s crew really blew this one. And this despite the fact that there was an official looking directly at the play from a couple yards behind.
NFL officiating in 2023? Make it make sense, people.