That's true but I think the reason we're seeing it more is that we're a good team now. Bad teams get used to getting hosed and the fan base does too. You keep thinking when we get good, this won't happen to us, and then it still does.
on Mike and Mike this morning they made a great point, at the end of the Jax game they ran up to the LOS, snapped the ball with 3 OL's not set, one of them literally standing up. The Ravens sacked Bortles but grabbed his facemask doing it. That penalty led to the game winning FG for Jax.
Mike and Mike said it quite clearly, if that was the Jets and Patriots we would be in day 2 of a national media blitz condemning the NFL for that no call. They actually reviewed the play and still allowed it when it's clear as day on tape they're not set when the ball is snapped. That WOULD not happen in a Pats game, it would not happen in a Packers game etc. his point is why are things like that accepted in games involving "lesser" teams?
I think because for so long we were a lesser team, we're still waiting to get the treatment the elite teams get now.
I think that's why the no call on the PI against Floyd in the Pitt game still bugs me, you don't see calls like that missed when certain teams are playing.
Love your points and value your opinions. But I disagree. To be honest, I don't think we've been hosed in any game this year by the officiating. Not on purpose anyway. There were some really bad calls in a couple games, but overall it's a fact that
we're getting more calls than our opponents.
What I wish didn't happen is the unconscious bias (which is perfectly natural by the way) of officials who officiate good teams or great players. Jordan getting calls was mentioned, but really the worst offender was Karl Malone. That dude was built like a Greek sculpture, but anytime anybody, even a guard, would swipe near him, instant foul. It happens in football too with good or great teams.
I think we're one of those teams now, we're getting all kinds of calls we wouldn't have in the past. We probably lead the league in pass interference and illegal contact penalties against us. Many of those calls, in my opinion, saved drives, changed drives, and changed games. I can think of two pass interference penalties against us, just off the top of my head, which changed the complexion of games.
I'd also add that sure, if it was the Jets and Patriots playing maybe those calls don't stand like they did in Baltimore/Jacksonville, but I chalk that up to them being bad teams and being sent a bad officiating crew to do the game. Are you going to send your best officials to the crappy games with the worst teams, or are you going to send them to marquee matchups? The worst officials learn by officiating the worst teams because those teams' mistakes are more blatant. The best officials are almost required when two good teams play, because there's so much garbage and little tricks and technique's great teams do that only a vet official can spot. That's primarily a playoff thing, but the point is the same.
I know the officials aren't biased because when the replacement refs came in it sucked and football sucked and my life sucked. It was all good for the first game or two, all smiles, who needs the old refs, screw them, this is great, finally teams can play football. That lasted until it started to suck. It became obvious how hard it is to officiate a game.
And honestly, they're making these calls within split seconds, it amazes me. You see it on replay and you're like oh okay, and then see it in full speed and you're like holy crap, how did he even see that?
The officiating in the NFL, in my opinion, is some of the best officiating in any sport. What sucks is some of the vagueness about the rules. And that's what bothers me, because I can't get it out of my head that the reason they left that vagueness in there is for betting, throwing games, influencing games, etc. That bothers me a lot. It's a multi-multi-multi X 32 billion dollar industry, and their lawyers seem to be on point and specific with everything else, but when it comes to some of the rules they're suddenly vague, and that bugs the crap out of me because of what it implies.
