By popular demand, we’re again going to have a post after each game that breaks down some of the controversial decisions from the officiating crew in the game.
Penalty Count
Steelers 4-26 (leading to one Jets first down)
Jets 7-74 (leading to three Steelers first downs)
Note: This does not include penalties that are declined or off-set.
Plays where the call was obvious, uncontroversial or not visible on broadcast footage
Jets Penalties
- Delay of game with five minutes left in the first half was the team’s first penalty of the game.
- 12 men on the field. Jamien Sherwood was late getting the personnel changed on 3rd down and, while Jowon Briggs managed to get off the field, Jay Tufele did not.
- Quincy Williams late hit out of bounds. Clearly in the white area on the sideline and totally unnecessary because the ball carrier was clearly bottled up with nowhere to go.
- Qwan’tez Stiggers illegal block in the back on a punt. Totally unnecessary as it was away from the ball and the return man ran out of bounds anyway. Maybe he tried to get him in the side rather than the back but it was pretty clear-cut.
- Brandon Stephens pass interference. An obvious grab as the receiver got a step on him on a throw over the top.
Steelers Penalties
- Illegal formation on a missed extra point. You can’t have more than six players either side of the long snapper.
- Delay of game. We’ve seen that before from Aaron Rodgers.
- Cameron Heyward personal foul on a kickoff return. Shoved Isaiah Davis down at the end of the play.
Penalties warranting further discussion or explanation
Jets Penalties
- John Simpson personal foul. This was a pathetic display from Jalen Ramsey, who flopped to draw the flag after Simpson did little more than get in his grill, which he had every right to do because he had a helmet-to-helmet hit on Justin Fields. It’s probably more likely that Ramsey is fined over this than Simpson.
- Tyler Johnson false start. Did he even move early? It looked like he timed up the snap count, something which offensive tackles do all the time and get away with.
Steelers Penalties
- Ramsey low block. He dived in low and hit Braelon Allen in the knee. There’s an argument to say he was trying to avoid the block and the contact was in the process of attempting to make the tackle but he did make that contact below the waist, which is what the rule is designed to prevent. Adding to the confusion, this was initially announced as on the offense.
Notable no-calls etc
Here were some of the other notable missed calls, replay situations and controversial moments:
- Tyler Johnson was in pass protection on one play and probably got away with a hold;
- The Steelers got away with a hold or illegal block in the back on Andrew Beck on one kickoff;
- Rodgers was probably still in the pocket when he got away with intentional grounding and that could have been corrected from upstairs but was likely to close to warrant changing;
- Jermaine Johnson could have been flagged for an illegal helmet-to-helmet hit but that would have been unjust as Rodgers’ helmet ricocheted into his from Quinnen Williams getting there a beat before him;
- Jeremy Ruckert juggled one catch but did manage to prevent it from hitting the turf;
- Olu Fashanu got away with what looked like an obvious hold on TJ Watt as Fields escaped the pocket;
- Breece Hall was marked short on the marker on one run but it looked close and perhaps warranted at least a dynamic measurement;
- Jonnu Smith did get in at the pylon on his touchdown catch;
- Will McDonald should probably shelve the hand grenade celebration given that the NFL has resolved to penalize and fine gestures including gun-related motions;
- Mauigoa got away with another possible illegal block in the back; and
- Stephens probably should have been flagged for pass interference on his late-game pass break-up as his hand-fighting impacted on the receiver’s ability to make a play on the ball and contact was before the ball arrived.
Let us know what we missed – or misinterpreted – in the comments…