Pair of ref controversies mars another Monday night in NFL
Another Monday night, another rough night for the officials. Nothing as controversial as Fail Mary or the touchback that cost the Lions a shot at beating the Seahawks earlier this season, but this Monday night still brought something new.
This time, there were two controversial calls in the game between the New England Patriots and Buffalo Bills that had the head of the officiating crew offering explanations to a pool reporter after the game, and the head of NFL officiating admitting errors on the NFL Network.
The first, and seemingly more egregious, did not have much bearing on the final outcome — a 20-13 Patriots victory — but caused quite a stir at the time it happened.
On the third play of the third quarter, with New England leading 10-3, Tom Brady rolled toward the right sideline before throwing downfield to Danny Amendola. The receiver caught the ball and broke for the end zone, with a shot at a 69-yard touchdown. But just as Amendola broke clear, the play was whistled dead — apparently because the official thought Brady stepped out of bounds.
After a long discussion, the referee announced that there was an inadvertent whistle. The 14-yard reception counted, with a 15-yard penalty for interference from the Bills coaching staff. Replays showed that just before the official blew the play dead, he was interfered with — perhaps bumped by — Bills head coach Rex Ryan on the sideline.
A pool reporter spoke with referee Gene Steratore after the game and asked him about the whistle.
After the game, NFL Vice President of Officiating Dean Blandino spoke on "NFL Network Total Access" and said the whistle clearly should not have been blown.
Host Spero Dedes then asked Blandino whether he was as confused as most of the people watching the game as the confusion unfolded during the meeting of officials to straighten out the play.
The second controversial call came at the game’s conclusion.
With seven seconds left and the Bills down 20-13, quarterback Tyrod Taylor hit receiver Sammy Watkins on the left sideline at the Buffalo 48-yard line. Watkins caught the ball with his back to the sideline, stumbled, then fell down on his rear. Untouched, Watkins then fell backward and out of bounds with two seconds on the clock.
But rather than stopping the clock as Watkins went out of bounds untouched, the officials kept the clock running, preventing the Bills from one last Hail Mary and instead ending the game.
Afterward, FOX Sports officiating guru Mike Pereira voiced his disagreement with the call on Twitter.
The pool reporter talked with Steratore about that play, as well, and this was the explanation:
Sold, Pereira?
Quite the contrary.
Ultimately, Pereira summed up the night the way many viewers likely did:
The Associated Press contributed to this report
