Football fans are destroying NFL refs for a terrible non-call at the end of the Arizona Cardinals-Buffalo Bills Week 1 game on Sunday.
The Cardinals were trailing 34-28 with 32 seconds left and in a position to stun the Bills at Highmark Stadium, facing a 4th-and-7 situation. Unfortunately, that’s where the NFL refs took center stage in another thrilling game.
Kyler Murray attempted a deep pass near the goal line to Greg Dortch, but he was unable to make the grab thanks to some (obvious) physical contact by Bills cornerback Ja’Marcus Ingram:
GAME SEALING PLAY, BILLS WIN AFTER A FORCED INCOMPLETION. #billsmafia #BillsMafia #cardinals #nfl pic.twitter.com/AeHljiX1F8
— Sports Pulse (@sportspulsenow_) September 8, 2024
🚨BREAKING: THE #NFL REFS MISSED AN OBVIOUS PASS INTERFERENCE ON THE #BILLS DBs.
The refs should’ve thrown a penalty, which would’ve given the #Cardinals a chance to win.
TEAMS SHOULD NOT LOSE BECAUSE THE REFS CANNOT SEE THE OBVIOUS. @MrAzSports
pic.twitter.com/O7MjBTq4yX— MLFootball (@_MLFootball) September 8, 2024
That resulted in a turnover on downs, as the Bills barely hung on for a six-point victory. That controversial finish predictably led to a plethora of angry reactions from fans, who accused the NFL refs of rigging the game:
Joe Burrow
Seen flexing his wrist on the bench.
Put on a glove & then took it off again.
Announcers said he still has stiffness and swelling in the wrist regularly.
All of this is to be expected in Burrow’s surgically repaired right wrist.
He underwent surgery to repair…
— Jesse Morse, MD (@DrJesseMorse) September 8, 2024
Another year of @NFLOfficiating doing their job to help the NFl protect the betting. It’s soooo rigged and I don’t know why I keep watching. Two clear no calls on pass interference against the Bills. 💸
— Kyle Killebrew (@KyleMKillebrew) September 8, 2024
The refs just letting the Bills manhandle our receivers, no flags.
NFL is rigged— J•rod®️ (@stinkyfingurr) September 8, 2024
Cardinals running the ball on 3rd down was certainly a choice
— RAMEY (@HoodieRamey) September 8, 2024
The NFL is rigged. it always will be for their script. The refs can cheat a game in any way shape or form. the cardinals should have got 2 pi calls in one drive but get neither.
— Geoffrey fullen (@GFullen) September 8, 2024
🚨BREAKING: THE #NFL REFS MISSED AN OBVIOUS PASS INTERFERENCE ON THE #BILLS DBs.
The refs should’ve thrown a penalty, which would’ve given the #Cardinals a chance to win.
TEAMS SHOULD NOT LOSE BECAUSE THE REFS CANNOT SEE THE OBVIOUS. @MrAzSports
pic.twitter.com/O7MjBTq4yX— MLFootball (@_MLFootball) September 8, 2024
Falcons… why are you the way you are
— WyattzWorld (@WyattzWorId) September 8, 2024
Officiating bag job on the last two non PI calls. Refs bail out Bills.
— Mike From Woburn (@MikeFromWoburn) September 8, 2024
For what it’s worth, head referee Tra Blake and his officials actually penalized the Bills (nine times for 65 yards) more than the Cardinals (five times for 31 yards). Nonetheless, the Bills got away with blatant pass interference on a penalty that would have likely resulted in a victory for the visitors.
Arizona will try to avoid an 0-2 start when they head back home to host the NFC West rival Los Angeles Rams next Sunday. The Bills have a short week to prepare for a visit with Tua Tagovailoa and the Miami Dolphins on “Thursday Night Football”.
NFL Refs Are Already Stealing The Headlines
Unfortunately, NFL officials stealing the headlines because of controversial calls/non-calls is nothing new. The refs were also a talking point in the Baltimore Ravens-Kansas City Chiefs Kickoff Game on Thursday after missing several clear-as-day false starts against the defending champions.
The NFL has had plenty of time to improve its officiating system, such as expanding the replay system and/or adding a sky judge. But the league appears more than happy with the current system and the performance of its refs, so don’t expect anything to change.
