This weekend’s NFL games were marred by a series of controversial officiating calls that left fans and commentators questioning the decisions made on the field. A focal point of criticism was the oversight in the New England Patriots’ match against the Baltimore Ravens, where a late play had fans frustrated. Ravens cornerback Marlon Humphrey tackled Patriots wide receiver Kayshon Boutte on a deep pass, but surprisingly, no flags were thrown, raising eyebrows during NBC’s Sunday Night Football broadcast. NBC rules analyst Terry McAulay, a former NFL official, remarked, “That’s pass interference,” highlighting the widespread confusion regarding the call.
Earlier in the day, another glaring error occurred in the Carolina Panthers versus Tampa Bay Buccaneers game. With the game tied and under five minutes left, Panthers defender Princely Umanmielen made contact with punter Riley Dixon, a blatant foul that should have granted a first down. Instead, officials penalized the Buccaneers for holding and overlooked the running-into-the-kicker penalty entirely. Commentator Mike Pereira, another former official, stated, “I would have had running into the kicker,” emphasizing how the referees’ focus on the hold may have caused them to miss a significant call. This oversight allowed the Panthers to secure a critical field goal, which ultimately determined the game’s outcome and affected playoff standings.
In the Pittsburgh Steelers’ game against the Detroit Lions, officiating also came under scrutiny. Lions receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown executed a lateral to quarterback Jared Goff in what appeared to be a game-winning touchdown. However, St. Brown was flagged for offensive pass interference, nullifying the potential score. Head official Carl Cheffers, accompanied by CBS announcers Jim Nantz and Tony Romo, struggled to clarify why the Lions didn’t receive another chance to play. Cheffers explained that, by NFL rules, a foul by the offense with no time remaining means the game is over, and there can be no extensions or reviews on such plays.
Despite the apparent touchdown, Cheffers elaborated on the play’s complexity, noting the initial fumble or backward pass situation following the lateral and the subsequent offensive foul. He stated, “Therefore, there is no score and there is no replay of the down,” describing the rulings that sealed the game.
Additionally, there was another controversial ruling in the same game, where Goff connected with St. Brown for a one-yard touchdown, only for the score to be negated due to pass interference on Lions receiver Isaac TeSlaa. Cheffers recounted that the offending player created an unfair opportunity for St. Brown to catch the ball, prompting the enforcement of the penalty.
The weekend’s events reflect the ongoing challenges faced by NFL officiating crews, drawing attention to the need for consistency and clarity in the rules. As fans continue to express frustration, there is hope that league officials will take these controversies into consideration, striving to enhance the consistency and understanding of calls made during critical game moments.