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Here we are in December, when things start to get really serious in the NFL, and it’s clear that the refs don’t know what they’re doing and are going to screw things up yet again at some point either down the stretch of the season or in the playoffs.
Remember the worst no-call in maybe the history of sports last January that cost the Saints a trip to the Super Bowl last year.
Something like that is going to happen again this year. Mark my words.
I say this because if you have watched any football this year you’ve likely noticed a call. or no-call, that didn’t make any sense to you at all.
It could be something small like a soft personal foul call that happened to Earl Thomas on Sunday in Buffalo.
Or it could be one of the many horrific calls/no-calls in Sunday’s Chiefs-Patriots game that cost the Patriots two touchdowns.
Either way, a ref is going to play a big part in a big moment that will affect the outcome of a game and it’s clear that the NFL doesn’t care. It seems like if players aren’t smoking pot and the checks from Bud Light are being cashed, then all is good with the league. It just doesn’t seem like the NFL cares about making sure the officials are at the top of their games, which is saddening.
Let’s look back to that Chiefs-Patriots game. Here was the marque game of the week that was viewed by a huge audience in the 4:25 p.m. slot. A rematch of last year’s epic AFC Championship Game featuring two teams that are fighting for pivotal playoff seedings. And the NFL had to watch as its refs embarrassed themselves three different times.
It started with the refs missing an obvious fumble and then blowing the play dead, even though the Patriots had picked up the fumble and were running for what looked like a sure six points. Bill Belichick had to use his final challenge on the play, the call was reversed but the six points never happened. That would have been a huge TD.
Then on the ensuing drive, Patriots rookie wide receiver N’Keal Harry dove toward the end zone and scored a TD with a beautiful, athletic move. Refs, however, ruled he was out of bounds at the 3 yard line, which replays showed was clearly wrong. Belichick didn’t have any challenges left and the Patriots had to settle for a field goal. That play should have been reviewed because all scoring plays are reviewed and this was clearly a scoring play. But since he was ruled out at the 3, there was no review.
Two perfectly legal touchdowns wiped off the board because the guys in the striped shirts couldn’t do their job. Which is just a brutal look for the league.
Later in the game Patriots WR Phillip Dorsett was clearly interfered with on a deep pass inside the 10 yard line but it wasn’t called. Belichick again was out of challenges and couldn’t do anything about this:
Is easy to blame refs for a team’s failures but these decisions by the refs played a huge part in this big matchup. It’s a little easier to take since it’s the regular season but if this happens again in the postseason then the NFL will have a huge problem on its hands once again.
I’m sure if that happens Roger Goodell will come out and give some soulless answer that protected the shield but did nothing for the team and the fans that got screwed over.
The league needs to be better than this. Especially as we march toward the playoffs.
NFL Week 14 Awards: Kittle goes beastmode!
Here’s my weekly gif-by-gif look back at the good, the bad, and the hilarious from Sunday’s NFL action. George Kittle’s awesome play in the final minute of the 49ers’ win over the Saints is definitely in there. So is a beer drinking celebration by a Ravens DB and a ‘Toy Story’ celebration by a rookie QB.
Quick takes: Pats booed at home… Steelers fans take over in Arizona… How Garrett can keep his job… And more!
– Speaking of the Patriots, Tom Brady and Co. got booed off the field at halftime on Sunday. Ouch.
– Steelers fans took over the Cardinals’ 64,000 seat stadium on Sunday.
– Here’s reportedly the only way Jason Garrett can keep his job.
– Baker Mayfield called out his own team’s trainers over OBJ’s injury.
(Follow me on Twitter at @anezbitt. It might change your life. Just don’t tell me about your fantasy team.)