BREAKING: NFL Unveils Major Penalty to Lions vs. Cowboys Refs

 

The NFL has been dealing with some shotty referees throughout the season but results are beginning to get questioned with the integrity of the game. ESPN’s Adam Schefter has reported the referee crew in charge of the Detroit Lions vs. Dallas Cowboys game last night has been downgraded and completely taken off from being involved in the NFL Playoffs coming up in a few weeks.

Last night, the Lions were attempting a two-point conversion to take the lead but were called for an illegal touching penalty with 23 seconds remaining. Offensive lineman Taylor Decker went to the referee and seemingly reported as eligible but the NFL referees determined that was not the case.

This crew has been no strangers to controversy throughout the season as they were the same NFL referee crew that missed a blatant roughing the passer call on Cleveland Browns’ Zadarius Smith and cost the Chicago Bears a chance at a critical field goal. This officiating crew also was part of the Kansas City Chiefs vs. Green Bay Packers game that did not call an apparent pass interference on the Packers late in the game.

With the amount of betting that the league deals with and is now partnered with, the NFL needs to make sure blatant and obvious errors do not continue to happen.

Does the NFL have a referee issue?

While things continue to look worse every week for some of these officiating crews, it is becoming obvious that the league has to figure something out with penalties. These incorrect calls late in games can be the difference in players and coaches losing their jobs and the referees seemingly do not have any significant punishment levied towards them.

If we have a referee in the sky that is observing plays, why not allow them to take away blatant mistakes made by the officiating crew? If it is obviously not a penalty and is called one, this gives the officials a chance to fix their mistakes. There is no reason we should know Brad Allen‘s name but instead we do because of mistakes he has made in games.

It is not easy officiating 22 players on the field at one time and mistakes are bound to happen. Let’s make sure the NFL can alleviate the obvious mistakes that some officiating crews are making and give them some assistance so things like this do not happen. This type of controversy is not a good look for one of, if not the, top league in American sports.