Detroit Lions vs. Arizona Cardinals (Photo via FOX)
Football fans are teeing off on the NFL refs for a horrible game-changing call in the Detroit Lions-Arizona Cardinals on Sunday afternoon.
Late in the second quarter of the Lions-Cardinals games, Detroit quarterback Jared Goff seemingly threw a game-changing pick-six after he was getting hit. However, the NFL refs blew the play dead and determined that the two-minute warning stoppage had hit before the play:
Dear Arizona fans, complain all you want, but the whistle is blown BEFORE the throw. This is coming from a Lions fan who is not a fan of referees. pic.twitter.com/ptsOWalFLM
— SandmanLions (@Sandman7773) September 22, 2024
So instead of a pick-six that could have put Arizona up (an extra point pending), the Lions got another chance to convert. Jahmyr Gibbs rushed for 14 yards on 3rd-and-12, setting up an eventual TD for the second-year running back.
Arizona could have potentially taken a one-point lead into halftime, but the Lions were instead gifted seven points thanks to the awful call by the NFL refs. Matt Prater kicked a late field goal for the Cardinals, making it 20-10 going into the half.
NFL wasted no time ripping the officials, with some even accusing them of “rigging” it in Detroit’s favor:
🚨🚨THIS NEEDS TO BE INVESTIGATED🚨🚨
The refs overturned an interception by the #Lions against the #Cardinals, claiming the two-minute warning had already passed
CLOCK CLEARLY SHOWS TIME WAS LEFT… SHOULD HAVE BEEN AN ARZ INT
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pic.twitter.com/idE5db3CGF— MLFootball (@_MLFootball) September 22, 2024
NFL is rigged. That lions and cardinals game
— LAMARIAN (@Big_DreR) September 22, 2024
Nfl is rigged. What just happened in the cardinals game is unreal
— Rausch (@xyz_1141) September 22, 2024
Refs trying to give the lions the game crazy
— poncho (@CollinDay12) September 22, 2024
The Arizona Cardinals just got boned so hard. Your officiating is embarassing @nfl
— Jeffrey Champlin (@JeffyChamp) September 22, 2024
Sports books stocks are going to plummet the sky is falling. BREAKING THE NFL IS RIGGED!!
Cardinal pick 6 gets called back because of BS early 2 minutes warning ghost whistle.#rigged #goff #pick6 #nfl— Your Best Guess (@NFLisRiggedLOL) September 22, 2024
The #Lions just got bailed!!!#NFLTwitter #NFL pic.twitter.com/aTn3moYZ1u
— Pick 6 Pack (@Pick6PackFB) September 22, 2024
After watching a few college games yesterday and now this Cardinals, Lions game. You cannot tell me that sports are not rigged. Please stop gambling people.
— WannaBeSportsBetter (@SomeSportsDude1) September 22, 2024
Cardinals just got robbed of a TD, football is rigged
— John (@SweatWithJohn) September 22, 2024
This wasn’t the only awful call by the NFL refs during Sunday’s games. Los Angeles Chargers star Khalil Mack was called for roughing the passer on Justin Fields in the team’s loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers:
AWFUL: REFS CALL A ROUGHING THE PASSER ON KHALIL MACK, BECAUSE A #STEELERS OFFENSIVE LINEMAN SHOVED MACK INTO THE QB.
Another awful call going against Los Angeles, resulting in points for Pittsburgh.
(h/t @lengthidentify)
pic.twitter.com/mn8fGIB5Nm— MLFootball (@_MLFootball) September 22, 2024
There have been plenty of calls for the NFL to make all of its officials full-time employees, as the majority of them have busy careers outside of football.
More Mistakes By NFL Refs, No Solutions In Sight
It’s unfair assign all of the blame to the NFL officials whenever they make a mistake, no matter how severe it is. They are humans, not perfectly-programmed robots, and the refs can do their jobs lightyears better than most of us.
But the NFL can go greater lengths to improve its officiating system. Full-time officials would work, but so would an expanded replay system or the implementation of a sky judge.
