The replacement refs, having served their purpose of stealing a game from the Packers (see posts regarding last week’s Packer-Seahawk game), were dismissed by the NFL, and the regular refs were brought back so they could fulfill their weekly duty of trying to steal games from the Packers. What happened today with the regular refs was ridiculous, and was mentioned prominently during the game and on the ESPN highlight shows.
Let’s review the terrible calls in today’s game:
1. The Packers were up 7-0, and the Saints scored a touchdown when their receiver, Marques Colston, committed offensive interference by pushing the defender down so he could catch the 20-yard “touchdown pass.” Instead of penalizing the Saints 10 yards, the “touchdown” stood, tying the game.
2. With the Packers up 21-14, the Packers stopped the Saints on the opening drive of the second half, as a third-and-five pass from the Saints’ 31 was incomplete, which would have forced the Saints to punt. The ball hit the ground, but the refs ruled the pass complete. The Packers challenged and lost, even though the ball hit the ground, and the Saints’ drive was extended, keeping the Packer defense on the field much longer than it should have been, which is tiring, and giving the Saints an undeserved field goal. As Greg Jennings was hurt and out of the game and other Packers were hurt during the game, these 10 points of gifts kept the Saints in the game and nearly cost the Packers the game. The score was now 21-17 Packers, and 10 of the Saints’ 17 were not legitimate.
3. The Packers, after scoring a touchdown to go up 28-27 with 7:00 left in the fourth quarter, kicked off to the Saints. The Saints’ returner clearly fumbled the ball while upright and the Packers recovered at the Saints’ 28 yardline. The refs ruled the returner was down by contact! It was clearly a fumble and called a “blown call” by the announcers. Not only did this prevent the Packers from probably scoring points since they were moving the ball well and should have started at the Saints’ 28, but it allowed the Saints’ drive to continue as they tried to kick a winning field goal late in the game. They did attempt a field goal from 48 yards, but missed it.
4. When the Saints lined up for a 53-yard field goal to try to take the lead with 2:58 left in the fourth quarter, they false started, but the penalty was called on the Packers for being offsides. Instead of having to either attempt a 58-yard field goal, go for the first down, or punt, the Saints were allowed to try a 48-yard field goal as a result of this bad call, which is a distance that isn’t that difficult to make.
All of these calls had a significant impact upon the game, and nearly cost the Packers a game for the second straight week.
Let’s also not forget Mike McCarthy rushed three men on third-and-17 from the Saints’ 39, allowing them to complete a 23-yard pass, keep the drive alive, and kick a field goal to go up 27-21. McCarthy continues to get burned when rushing three men on third-and-longs (and Hail Marys, both of which helped cost them the Giant playoff game last year), but he continues to do it.
The Packers were very very lucky to win that game. The Field Goal Kicker for New Orleans really choked !!
A 48-yard field goal isn’t that easy. Had the correct call been made when the Saints’ kick returner fumbled, the Saints aren’t even in a position to kick the field goal. And, had they properly called false start instead of offsides, it’s 10 yards further back.