I’m obviously posting this because my team lost due to shitty ref calls in the last 30 seconds of Sunday’s game (Manute Bol couldn’t have caught that pass) but I’m also talking about the Kenny Pickett magical first down that was short and the Christian Wilkins hit on Jalen Hurts as he threw the ball that was roughing the passer apparently. All 3 of these were worse than the replacement ref nonsense of 2012.
Refs are getting away with bad calls because coaches would rather challenge things like spotting the ball and their WR catching in bounds or just catching a pass which is strategically better anyway because refs should be expected to get their calls right and not swing the momentum of a game off of their penalty flags (unless the penalty is clearly what they’re calling). Reviewing penalties will help the refs get it right if the league office is involved.
I know the old saying goes “play well enough to not let the refs decide” or something but there’s been an increase in games decided by crap reffing giving teams 15 yards free or setting them up at the 1 for something that shouldn’t have been called. Fred Vanvleet was spot on with NBA refs doing the same stuff and showing their biases
I do want to end by saying Cleveland outplayed us enough to earn the win especially Myles Garrett
“I’m 8 for 8 so yeah I’m challenging that shit!”