I am no conspiracy theorist by any means, but after watching what transpired in Denver yesterday, one has to wonder if we are all being played by Roger Baddell and his merry band of rich greedy owners. How else can we explain the end result of that game and what it means going forward?. There were virtually no penalties through most of the game and all of a sudden, 2 DPI's, (both questionable imho), at the most critical time of the game? Next, the most egregious call perhaps in football history - the Brandin Cooks catch that was a catch, which amazingly, they did not even stop the game to review. He was down with possession, but the ball was given to Denver. I don't care what that moron Gene Steratore says, that should have been Buffalo's ball. Later on, we come to find out that Bo Nix broke his ankle after doing a really positive post-game interview with no evidence of anything wrong with him? I would be shocked beyond belief if the league (and refs) allow the Texans to win their game today, so we have to hang our hats on Jared Stidham who hasn't played a snap all season in the AFCC game against NE next week? So here we are again, another NE SB appearance. I couldn't be more thrilled.
Eh that was an interception. The NFL does defer to giving that call to the receiver a lot and they should’ve reviewed it, but it’s pretty clear to me that’s a pick and those should always be picks.
Andy To me that was an interception and refs called it right. But league being in love with Pats is an accurate statement. When you have a star QB sometimes you receive preferential treatment.
The NFL needs to apply the rule consistently. Aaron Rodgers, of all people, caught a pass in the first game vs Baltimore a few weeks ago. Well, it was ruled a catch. He never actually had control of it, but they ruled him down by contact when his knee hit the ground and he was still trying to grasp the ball while it was also possessed by a Ravens player, who ripped it out when they both went to the ground. The real take away here is, regardless of how the call did go or should go, the NFL has a perception problem that is very much compounded by the officiating problem and gambling problem the league has created for itself by not addressing either of the latter issues in any meaningful way. There was zero reason not to stop and have the on field official take a look at the play again.
Sorry, I respectfully disagree. Cooks was down with possession. Should have been it right there. Why didn't they even consider reviewing such an important play is the bigger question.
To me there was enough to show the lack of possession that even if it was called a catch and reviewed, it would have been a pick. And I’m like the millionth person to point this out but that play doesn’t even happen if the hold on Buffalo in the end zone is called. The game is over on a safety. You can’t turn the ball over 4 times and cry about the refs.
Ok, let me rephrase then, if Brady or Mahomes threw that pass, would it still have been a pick? N F W.
The NFL has been jamming Josh Allen down the viewers throats for two years. They gave him a questionable MVP award, make sure every analyst in the country references him “putting on his Superman cape,” put them on Hard Knocks, etc. Not sure why you think he wouldn’t have gotten the call over someone else.
The Broncos Bills game was officiated fairly, as before Bo broke his ankle, either team in the AFC championship would have worked for the NFL. They actually could have ended the game earlier with a Broncos win on the borderline hold in the end zone they chose not to call. But if either of the next two games are close, expect the refs to rig it for the Patriots because a Bo-less Broncos team or the Texans would be bad for Super Bowl ratings.
Down with possession? So you think possession ends the moment he touched the ground on a catch regardless if he drops it?
If someone hits the ground and loses control it’s an incomplete pass. So why would the same rule not apply to losing possession and it ending up in the hands of the defender? The rule has always been you need to survive the ground. Cooks didn’t.
I'm watching the Pats take care of the Texans so let's not call this anything other than the better team is going to represent the AFC. Buffalo lost period. Bad calls happen in every game no matter how highly rated the Refs assigned are. Both of those DPIs were correct. The pick otoh was a judgement call. Sometimes they help. sometimes not. Patriots going back to the SuperBowl. It is what it is like it or not.
I don't think many are arguing that they weren't. The argument has been that the refs let those same plays go in the first three quarters and through most of the 4th. It was only when it came down to the wire that those previously "clean" plays all of a sudden became penalties. And the judgment call that was made by New York in this game was called in an opposite direction in the first Ravens/Steelers game a few weeks ago. Consistency and a solid understanding of what actually makes a catch a catch and a DPI call a correct DPI call, other than it just being up to the whims of the officiating crews, is what I think most are looking for. The NFL has a major perception problem that is in no way helped by the way these games are officiated.
Agreed that the NFL has a perception issue. Widespread gambling on every aspect of games didn't help. Any questionable call now gets scrutinized to the nth degree. Conspiracy theories run wild. The problem with expecting consistency is that humans aren't consistent. Two situations that may appear to be similar might be interpreted differently and that's human. To your point, it is up to the refs what is or isn't a catch or a penalty as the NFL fiercely protects the refs from any questioning or criticism from players or coaches at risk of heavy fines. So, the Refs have a baseline of rules they must follow but it's their human perception and judgement that determines how those rules are applied. 2 different Refs using the exact same guidelines can make two different calls. Umps have different strike zones as an example. Baseball is trying the automated strike zone I think this year. If that works, it won't be that big a leap before AI becomes a tool used by the league in NFL games. As long as human refs are enforcing the rules, you're gonna have calls that are on occasion, inconsistent.
I'm "fine" with different crews having different interpretations of how to call judgment call penalties like that. That's part of the game, to a degree. What I'm not fine with is the same crew having different interpretations of what is and is not a penalty depending on what the situation in the game is. If it's not a penalty in the 2nd quarter, it's not a penalty in the 4th.
