Another week of football, another week of NFL referees making bad calls or even better, not making any calls at all when they have to. In the Minnesota Vikings matchup with the Cincinnati Bengals, the referee’s blunder could not have come at a more crucial point. In overtime, a pass to Tee Higgins defended by corner Akayleb Evans was a textbook instance of pass interference, but the referees did not think so.
The play has Evans covering Higgins throughout his route, but when the wideout jumped to catch the ball down deep, the corner put his hand into the wideout’s face while holding onto him. The fact that this play was not considered to be pass interference was absurd.
To make matters worse, it gave an edge to the Vikings, as all they had to do was kick a field goal to win in overtime. Lucky for the Bengals, the team managed to sneak away with the victory.
Smh another game ruined by the refs officiating
— Sweeney (Super Scoop Podcast) (@Schweendawg) December 16, 2023
The NFL continues to disappoint fans with its quality of officiating
This season, the referees have been very picky while giving out PI calls. The Bills-Giants matchup witnessed the same sequence of events as a PI was not called on the final play of the game. In Week 7’s game between the Cleveland Browns and the Indianapolis Colts, the officials did call a PI but in this case; the play was questionable as the pass thrown itself was not close to being caught.
Fans were outraged at the crew for missing the key penalty in Saturday’s game. The Bengals managed to still win but at that moment, the game could have easily slid right past them. Here’s how fans reacted:
The refs just miss a very obvious PI 💀
Tee Higgins is being climbed on from the throw by Jake Browning… how do they miss this….
Bengals could now lose to the Vikings because of an awful call.
— Last Take™ (@TheRealLastTake) December 16, 2023
NFL Refs smh! Being human too excuse is beyond wore out!
That was PI 1000% percent #Bengals #Vikings
— Crazy Husker (@Crazy_Husker) December 16, 2023
First the “offsides” on the Pick 6 for the bengals. Now the missed PI on Higgins. Merry Christmas Vikings 🎁 here’s your W.
— bearsnow (@beardownempire1) December 16, 2023
Vikings get a gifted no call PI, then just an abysmal job on 3rd and 4th and 1. Just terrible
— Throck (@JThrock45_) December 16, 2023
Wow again @NFL these refs doing a poor job… being the 3 blind mice when it was clearly PI on Vikings. This game between the @Bengals and @Vikings…
— Ernesto Ochoa (@eochoa0024) December 16, 2023
Leave it to a Bill Vinovich crew to miss a crucial defensive PI call. @Bengals @Vikings @NFL @nflnetwork
— Jon-Erik Chretien (@JEChretien) December 16, 2023
what a terrible no call! How is that NOT a PI? #Vikings #Bengals
— Inkog (@Inkog1) December 16, 2023
THATS DEFENSIVE HOLDING AND PI AGAINST THE VIKINGS ON HIGGINS
NFL Officiating so inconsistent. #Bengals
— Pop (@financejonE) December 16, 2023
The way the Refs tried to help the Vikings by missing that PI call in OT is 🗑 😏 smh! Hate the Vikings anyways…💀 ha
Good win Bengals 👏🏾👏🏾 #MINvsCIN
— Wu-Tang Will (@willtangwu) December 16, 2023
Evans got away with a PI. #vikings
— Ali Siddiqui (@asiddiqui15) December 16, 2023
This has become a much larger issue now than ever. The NFL continues to look the other way and not hold the referees accountable to the same standards as players and coaches.
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