Now that we won, I can b**ch about...

Lost on the football fan base is the fact that refs are human.  The speed of the game is fast and there's a lot of moving parts.  Sure the Williams INT was right in front of the guy... he just missed it.  The rules of the game are set up where plays like that are reviewed.  In the end, they got it right.  

 

The false start that wasn't called was just missed.  There's plenty of calls like that that are missed.  It works both ways.  

It really wasn't that badly officiated. Some people made it out like the refs were out to screw the Packers, and that just seems ridiculous. And I'm not above putting on a tinfoil hat and directing some rage at refs when I feel the situation warrants it. On the interception that was called complete, and later overruled, looked to me like they missed a hold that kept the receiver from potentially getting his hands on the ball, so that play as called on the field seemed like a doubly lucky break in the Packers' direction.

 

The false start, that was pretty subtle. A missed call, sure, but egregious. What bugged me more is that they blew it dead and called it encroachment, when obviously the ball had been snapped by the time he made contact with the offensive lineman. Should have been blown dead as 'unabated to the quarterback' instead, if it wasn't going to be called on the offense.

 

The booth official did seem late, but it's not his job to instantly buzz on every questionable call. They need to look at it and see if there's any reason it might be overturned, which does take some time. Still, yes, that seemed late, I think they claimed the booth buzzed before the snap regardless of the McCarthy timeout, not sure if that's really true, it didn't look like they were stopping the play in time to me, but I didn't record it, and Sunday Ticket shortcuts excises that bit of the broadcast (NFL.com replays does it better, but not subscribing this year)

Most games, I think calls tend to balance out over the course of a game. And I usually will defend refs when it comes to the speed of the game aspect, because they largely do a great job at being in position to make a call. But, that's typically when their breakdowns occur.

The problem I have with the offsides/false start penalty is that the ref that watches for that is right there, so if he saw the offsides, he should've seen the flinch from their T. He is a trained observer, after all.

I can see these shoelace INTs and sideline receptions being easier to call, but review should back those calls up or overturn them. But to miss the most basic of responsibilities is pretty sad, IMHO.

 

That said, I think the refs haven't been as aggressive calling PI and holding penalties this year, and I like that. Letting players play is generally a good thing, and there should be less chance of a call affecting a game. But the crew of today's game had a bad game overall, and any hell they catch for it is deserved.

I thought a lot if blatant holds (seemingly alway on Daniels) were let go. I saw Pivkett barking about interior holding a few times.

The non-false start was inexcusable. They may be human, but this is the NFL. You're expected to make the call on a play in front of you. The Williams non-INT earlier? That's a tough call because the ball wasn't right out there. It's for that play IMO that replay is for.

The later one that got overturned? You miss that call and your ability to do your job properly comes into question. It was a miss, and a bad one. Replay also prevents this one from ruining a game, but you expect an official with a clear clear sight line just a few feet away to see the play...

Lost on the football fan base is the fact that refs are human.

 

Believe it or not I knew that. I don't have a problem with the refs being human, I have a problem with them being ancient humans. 

Not calling to review Williams INT was inexcusable.  We see games stopped for far more suspect plays in the 4th quarter all the time.  Somebody needed to pull the trigger there. 

When I saw the 2nd Williams pick, you could hear the ball hit his hands on the tv audio feed.  The only question was if it hit the ground.  Which wasn't that close.  If I could hear/see that on TV, why couldn't the ref?

What is missed here is that it was a pretty incredible INT.  He learned from the first one and spun onto his back so there was no chance the ball touches the ground. 

I think it was two weeks ago, Sunday night game. Less than 2 minutes Remaining. Redskins completed a pass on 2nd down that was ruled a 1st down. Chains were moved. Redskins running a hurry up offense missed a deep pass over the middle thinking it was 1st and 10. 

 

Chains are moved back and suddenly it's 4th and 1. Just a massive WTF move by Jeff Tripplet and his crew. 

 

NFL needs to get a handle on how the refs handle the last minutes of close games. I've seen too many games where the stripes are in such a hurry to move games along trying not to inject themselves into the outcome they screw things up worse. 

 

Tramon Williams said he was asked for the football 4-5 times but refused to hand it over because he knew it was a pick. Dallas was ready to run any possible play before anything could be reviewed. If MM doesn't take the time out Dallas would have run a play. Refs said afterwards they were buzzed before MM called TO but no ones buying that story. 

 

Correct.  Is there a written rule that says they must be at least 50 years old to be an NFL official?

 

These are the reasons that the ref on the field should be able to call penalties based on the replay. And coaches should be able to challenge penalties and be able to challenge within 2 minutes. If the refs can't get it right the first time then that is what replay is for.

The Tramon blown call followed by not stopping the game for review given the nature of the game at that time is unconscionable.

But they did stop the game and they did review the play and they did make the correct call.  

 

 

All true, Pakrz, but I'm not sure they would have stopped the game for a review if GB didn't take their final timeout.

Agree.  They cannot see, so they guess.   Understandable, but guessing in the negative, like on Williams' last INT, is really inexcusable.  The ball did not hit the ground, so how on earth (or why on earth) do you assume that it did?  The ball was in the air, then it is in his hands, so you ASSUME it hit the ground?  NO, YOU DO NOT DO THAT, YOU IGNORANT OLD ****. 

 

The lack of accountability is also disturbing.  They should be paid a lot more money, then docked pay when they mess it up, IMO.

My problem with them is that they're the only major sports league officials who are not full time.

Me either.

As it was, MM barely got the TO called before Romo spiked the ball. It was smart on Romo's part to get them to the line and try to get a play off ASAP because once that play's started, I don't think they would stop in the middle of it for a review of the previous play. If Romo had completed that play, even if it was a spike, then I don't think they can go back. MM was just a tad quicker and got the TO to force the replay. Me, I had no confidence they were going to review it. None. They would have let it go if MM hadn't stepped in.

I saw Daniels' arm getting pulled to hold him back from the QB. Don't underestimate the power of Jerry Jones in TX.

The thought of what could have happened after the int. is scary. The refs just might have let it go if not for MM. That could have been as bad as the Seattle game.

Worse, because we'd have all been bit***** that MM didn't call a TO to help force them to look at the replay.  

Don't underestimate the power of Jerry Jones in TX.

along that line of thought, I figured for sure the guy that called Tramon's INT incomplete (the one he actually intercepted) was most likely from Texas.  If someone knows how to figure that out I'm curious.

The refs could have been more consistent.  I did not think there was holding against Tramon Williams in the first half.  Tramon's 1st interception should not have been overturned as it was inconclusive evidence.  Mike Daniels head got whipped back multiple times with no holding calls on the Cowboys.

 

On the plus side, the refs appeared to allow Shields to play without calling PI despite several receivers pleas.

That's why MM makes the big bucks... He forced the situation to leave no doubt about if they would or wouldn't have reviewed it.  In the end, it doesn't matter.  The correct call was made.  

       
       
The thing that bothers me, what if Green Bay had used their final TO before this play? I think the outcome could've been different and the big talk around the country would have been how the Packers got screwed by a poor call.....AGAIN!!!

x 1,000,000

I can't begin to imagine how tough it is to make snap judgements on the most explosive plays in professional sports.  I'm amazed most that the refs call as many right as they do.  

 

As for the refs being older, I think that's a good thing as well.  There's a rigorous process to become a ref.  I think the experience is an asset more than a liability.  Like any profession there's going to be people who are top notch at it and people that skate by, 

 

IMO, Tramon's first INT was overturned correctly.  His hands never seemed to completely stop the ball from moving.  But I can't get over that second one.  You see the ref closely watching that ball's every move.  The replays consistently show that it never got more than three inches from the ground.  That was clearly a pro-Dallas/anti-Green Bay call in my book.  There is, without a doubt in my mind, no way that he didn't see it that was a clear and obvious INT.

Disagree on the age thing tit. They just aren't perceiving action correctly--it moves too fast for some of these fossils.

 

the call that frosted me was the blatant grab of Quarless' jersey on the PAT attempt right in front of the ref and the non-call. It was a hold, ball should've been moved the one where eddie would've punched it in.

if you go there YA, you have to acknowledge that Q pushed off prior to the grab.

Has there ever been a flag on a 2 pt. conversion try?

 

I think the refs look at it as if it's like the Hail Mary: reasonable shoving, ala Golden Tate, is fine, as is reasonable holding.  

Good point, H5.  I thought I recalled some post game discussion about a 2pt play last season or the season before about a D all being told to stop the play by whatever means necessary because flags are rarely thrown there.  Can't remember the game but I think the NE was involved.

Seems to me all teams out to throw the rules out the window on the two point plays then, as if no flags fly, just make sure it's no good.