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Did you watch any of Sunday’s NFL action and wonder what the heck is pass interference, anyways?
If so, you’re not alone.
Broncos fans were irate after the refs didn’t call pass interference on the final play of their team’s loss to the Vikings.
Arizona LB Joe Walker got called for pass interference even though he got tackled by the would-be receiver.
Houston’s DeAndre Hopkins called out the league and demanded change after he didn’t get a call for what sure looked like defensive pass interference.
Hopkins’ coach, Bill O’Brien said after that game: “I have no idea what pass interference is anymore. No idea.”
So yeah, this isn’t good and you know full well that this type of nonsense is once again going to play a huge part in a playoff game this year… because that’s how these things go.
The NFL tried to fix things after last season’s debacle in the NFC Championship Game, as they made pass interference calls available for coaches to challenge. For the most part, however, coaches challenge them and the league confirms the call on the field and life goes on.
That makes Hopkins’ play on Sunday all the more disappointing – he was clearly interfered with before the ball got to him, the Texans challenged the no-call, and the no-call somehow stood.
Look at this photo of the play and try to tell me this isn’t interference:
The NFL is danger of having these things not only spoil a team’s chance of getting to the Super Bowl but also of having fans simply turning away from the product because the refs have no idea what they’re doing.
It’s been a brutal year for NFL refs, who are still not full-time employees with the NFL and work “real jobs” in order to make ends meet.
When a coach says he has no idea what pass interference is, it’s not a good look for the league. If we’re seeing this type of stuff in WEEK 11, it is not a good look for the NFL.
Hopkins called for change, as he wants someone else in the league to look at these challenges. Hopefully the NFL does that and employs someone who can actually see what they’re looking at on these reviews, because many of these mistakes are embarrassing and taking away from the joy of watching the game.
Change has to happen now… or else what happened in New Orleans last January is only going to happen again.
And the NFL will look foolish when it does happen and they will have nobody to blame but themselves.
NFL Week 11 Awards: The good, the bad, and the hilarious from Sunday.
Here’s my weekly look back at the good, the bad, and the hilarious from Sunday’s NFL action. You need to see Mark Ingram acting as the hype man for his dominant QB, Lamar Jackson. We could all use a Mark Ingram in our lives.
Quick hits: Carson’s ‘tattoo’… Ron Rivera’s lame answer about FG… Bad beat in San Francisco… And more!
– Lots of NFL fans thought Carson Wentz had a new huge sleeve tattoo during Sunday’s game against the Patriots. He did not.
– Carolina Panthers coach Ron Rivera gave a really lame reason for why he went for a FG when down 26-0 at home.
– The very end of the 49ers-Cardinals game was a rough one for a lot of bettors.
– The Colts broke out an awesome keg stand celebration for a TD… that didn’t end up counting.
– It sure looks like the Astros’ cheating setup may have been revealed during their World Series documentary. Yikes.
– Kyle Busch had an awesome time celebrating his NASCAR title with his 4-year-old son.
(Follow me on Twitter at @anezbitt. It might change your life. Just don’t tell me about your fantasy team.)