This Just In: The NFL's Still the Best at Bad Officiating

Published on 15-Oct-2019 by Biff BoJock

Football - NFL    NFL Daily Update

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This Just In: The NFL's Still the Best at Bad Officiating

So a horse walks into a bar.

The barkeep asks, Why the long face?

In Detroit this week, Lions fans are wondering if that was really a horse.

They're thinking, instead, that it could well have been the Green Bay Packer lineman trying to keep Trey Flowers away from Aaron Rodgers.

 

In his five-year NFL career, Flowers has never been flagged for a hands-to-the-face penalty. Seems like he's honed his skills to be sure he avoids them.

Except, apparently, on the latest installment of Monday Night Football when the Lions suffered a 23-22 road loss to the Green Bay Packers.

 

For the record, Flowers is paid to be a full-time football player. He got dinged twice for hands-to-the-face by a dude paid to be a part-time official.

That's because all NFL officials are part-time.

That's one reason why the Packers were able to stifle Detroit's passing game outstanding blanket coverage like this:

 

Meanwhile, the Packers' All-Pro left tackle, David Bakhtiari was getting frustrated at Flowers' manhandling of him. So, he told an official to keep an eye on the dude.

Turned out to be a jaundiced eye, like on this play that woulda forced a Green Bay punt if it stood:

 

With Flowers getting rung up for a phantom fourth-quarter penalty, the drive stayed alive.

Three plays later, Aaron Rodgers found Allen Lazard for a 35-yard touchdown, and Detroit's lead was cut to two.

 

Indeed.

With 1:36 left in the game, it appeared the Lions had stopped Green Bay on a third-down incompletion, forcing a very makeable field goal try. That wasn't the issue, though. The time was.

So, when Flowers gets the laundry dropped on him again ...

 

This automatic first down allowed the Pack to dick around for a couple of plays, and then hit the chip-shot FG as time expired.

The way the NFC North is setting up, that could well be a crucial sequence of events.

In other words: Hey, Detroit ...

 

Not that Lions fans with a bitta cash to blow were gonna take all this in stride:

This billboard popped along the I-275:

 

The NFL ultimately copped to screwing up one of the calls against Flowers, but that'll be as far as it goes.

Their kajillionaire owners will continue to reap billions in profits, and -- what the hell? -- Green Bay probably draws better playoff ratings that Detroit would.

 

If there's only area where NHL referees stand head-&-shoulders above all others, it's their traditional propensity to swallow their whistles in crunch time. They're gonna err on the side of letting the players decide the outcome.

Maybe Flowers should learn to skate and then call the Red Wings.