Al Michaels had seen enough.
The legendary announcer was calling his 20th Dallas Cowboys-New York Giants game on Thursday in New Jersey but was finding it hard to see the action through all the yellow flags.
‘They should make that a recording: A flag is down,’ Michaels said of Clay Martin’s officiating crew, which spent much of the evening addressing fans over the MetLife Stadium PA system.
Over the first two quarters alone, Dallas and New York combined 12 penalties for 95 yards, several of which were dubious at best.
‘And for a change there’s no flag. Never want to jump the gun with this crew,’ Michaels said, mistakenly, moments before another flag was thrown.
This was the face mask penalty on Giants TE Daniel Bellinger?
That’s an inexcusable call by the officials. Just awful.
pic.twitter.com/DqChuhyx2o— Ralph Vacchiano (@RalphVacchiano) September 27, 2024
Giants tight end Daniel Bellinger is called for a facemask while having his own grill grabbed
CeeDee Lamb was celebrating a touchdown when one official flagged him for taunting
Easy work for Ceedee Lamb. HATE the taunting call after. Let em play #TNF
— Darius Butler (@DariusJButler) September 27, 2024
Al Michaels was calling his 20th Cowboys-Giants game on Thursday in New Jersey
The two penalties that were the most egregious in the eyes of fans were a facemask call on Giants tight end Daniel Bellinger and a taunting flag on Cowboys receiver CeeDee Lamb.
Bellinger’s facemask was particularly appalling because it was Cowboys linebacker DeMarvion Overshown who had actually grabbed his grill and not the other way around.
‘REF GOT MIXED UP AND GOT THE FACEMASK BACKWARD, CALLED IT ON THE WRONG TEAM, COST THE GIANTS 15 YARDS,’ former FS1 host Skip Bayless wrote on X in capital letters. ‘UNREAL.’
New York still finished the drive with a field goal, nonetheless, but could have had a better chance at a touchdown without the flag.
Lamb’s taunting penalty came after a 55-yard touchdown reception from Dak Prescott, which gave Dallas a 14-6 lead.
Unfortunately for the Cowboys, Lamb tossed the ball back at his Giants defender, Deonte Banks, drawing the 15-yard flag.
‘These taunting calls are getting out of hand,’ one fan wrote on X. ‘You’re telling me that was worthy of a penalty?!’
‘Weakest taunting flag in NFL history?’ another asked.
One fan put it bluntly: ‘These referees are atrocious. That’s taunting. LMAO.’
