If we haven’t reached a boiling point with this NFL refereeing issue then the water is at least close to scalding.
Rants from players and coaches could be heard across the NFL on Sunday after a series of controversial, potentially game-changing calls were made. The league’s overcorrection in its effort to protect quarterbacks is a central issue.
In Week 5 alone entering Monday night’s game between the Redskins and Saints, 11 flags were thrown for roughing the passer. This comes after a clarification by the league, made about a week ago, that the assessment of those penalties was going to be further addressed.
Though five weeks of the season, 50 roughing the passer penalties have been called, a number that project to 166 by season’s end. In 2017 through five weeks, 29 were called and a total of 109 for the season. In 2016, 26 were called in the first five weeks and 92 for the season. In 2015, 28 were called though five weeks and 103 for the season.
Steelers coach Mike Tomlin, after his team’s 41-17 win over the Falcons on Sunday, called the league’s obsession with calling roughing the passer penalties “a joke’’ after Steelers pass-rusher T.J. Watt was penalized for a low hit on Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan when replays showed Watt making an effort to avoid him.
“We gotta get better as a National Football League,’’ Tomlin told reporters. “Man, these penalties are costing people games and jobs. We gotta get ’em correct. And so I’m pissed about it, to be quite honest with you. But that’s all I’m gonna say on it.”
The fact that Tomlin said what he said and it came after a lopsided win by his team should be considered impactful.
“I understand the rules,’’ Watt told reporters. “I’m not a dirty player. I tried to pull off (Ryan) at the end. It puts us in a bind because I don’t know what else I can do. I couldn’t have rolled off, then I risk hitting someone in the knees or hurting myself.”
The most significant game-changing call Sunday came when Eagles pass-rusher Michael Bennett rushed Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins from behind and initially hit Cousins above the knee, but he slipped toward Cousins’ feet as he brought him down for a sack and was called for the personal foul.
The penalty gave the Vikings a first down at the Eagles’ 11-yard line late in the first half, rather than a third down at the 35, and helped them score a key touchdown in their 23-21 win.
The Giants believe they were victimized in a crucial moment of their 33-31 loss in Carolina.
At the beginning of the fourth quarter, as the Giants defense converged on a Panthers quarterback Cam Newton pass attempt on third-and-13 to force an incomplete pass. Instead of forcing a punt, though, the back judge called a penalty for helmet-to-helmet contact by Giants safety Landon Collins, who appeared to have made a good play on the football.
After the play, Panthers receiver Devin Funchess headed to the medical tent and then to the locker room, but it was reported later that Funchess needed only an IV for dehydration.
A few plays later, the Panthers scored a touchdown for a 27-16 lead with just 11:23 remaining in the game.
Collins and the Giants were understandably livid at the call, which was a big contributor to their loss.
The Giants were also infuriated by what they believed was a poor spot of the football right before the Panthers’ game-winning field goal and by a questionable roughing the passer call on Kerry Wynn.
“The mood is we need better refs,” Collins said after the game. “That’s the mood. Point-blank, simple. It’s bogus calls being called out there. It’s not football anymore.’’
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