Today’s NFC Championship Game did not look good for the National Football League (NFL) and its #officiating. It was one of the worst called games in recent memory.
Even worse is that it started from the first offensive possession of the game. DeVonta Smith was ruled to have caught a pass along the sidelines on a fourth down play. There was discussion on Twitter that a play like that is also reviewed in real time, with all the angles considered.
Instead of overturning the call of a completed pass and a turnover on downs, the Eagles snapped the football. San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan was not able to throw the red flag to challenge. If he had, there was clear and conclusive visual evidence that showed Smith did not complete the process of the catch.
Overall though the 49ers were called for 11 penalties, the Eagles were called for four.
Huge discrepancy in the flags that were thrown. Yet that is besides the point, even when called the incorrect penalty was applied. For example, Jimmie Ward got called for pass interference when it should have been called a hold.
Now for the penalties that were called. Jordan Mason got called for roughing the punter and the flag should have been picked up as he was pushed from behind by Eagles tight end Jack Stoll. There is video evidence on a run by Jalen Hurts that 49ers safety Talanoa Hufanga is clearly being held, on a touchown run by Kenneth Gainwell, defensive tackle Kevin Givens was held.
Seemingly on nearly every passing attempt, Lane Johnson got started early. There were no flags thrown for a false start though. John Hussey was today’s head official and the performance of his crew was completely unacceptable
It also does not reflect well on the NFL that a sports betting service Ceasars Sportsbooks stated “liability is a factor, too. The 49ers are the one team we do not want to win the Super Bowl.” The quote is from Adam Pullen the Director of Trading
A quote like that, a poorly officiated game, and it definitely calls the credibility of the NFL into question. To get any of it back, Hussey’s entire crew needs to get discplined severely.
Here’s a look at some of the calls and no calls.
Correction: what an insane drop that counted as a catch pic.twitter.com/BsMxeIrXyb https://t.co/BQS5P1SGL7
— 𝙏𝙝𝙚𝙎𝙁𝙉𝙞𝙣𝙚𝙧𝙨 (@TheSFNiners) January 29, 2023
I’ve no dog in this hunt & grew up a huge Eagles fan, but this roughing the kicker penalty against the 49ers, which effectively ended the NFC championship game, was a complete joke. The rusher was pushed into the punter & @NFLonFOX didn’t even mention it!
pic.twitter.com/8dPiceMJzV— John Ziegler (@Zigmanfreud) January 29, 2023
Look at Hufanga getting held pic.twitter.com/ls95ZQL07K
— daniel³₃³ (@BredThePharaoh) January 29, 2023
Lo he dicho todo el año. Lane Johnson siempre hace false start y jamás lo marcan. pic.twitter.com/Jy5ra1W8C5
— Dave Rangel M. (@Dav_RangelM) January 29, 2023
Lane Johnson false starts on almost every play. I know some guys time it perfectly, but he’s straight up jumping. Nick Bosa effect or does Johnson always do this and not get called?#SFvsPHI #NFCChampionship pic.twitter.com/3oF5ZngG0c
— Will Presti (@WillPresti) January 29, 2023