Football Zebras

Throwback to 1980: Officials call an illegal hideout foul in the Eagles-Vikings Divisional Playoff

History

by Mark Schultz - July 8, 2021May 19, 2022 14663

In 1980, the Philadelphia Eagles played the Minnesota Vikings in the NFC Divisional Playoff game at Veterans Stadium. With the game in doubt, the Eagles ran a fake punt where punter Max Runager threw a pass to John Sciarra for a first down. On the play, the Vikings were guilty of

Throwback to the 1992 playoffs: Referee Dale Hamer roughed up and gained respect from John Madden

History

by Mark Schultz - April 7, 2021April 7, 2021 04404

It is always good to get a playoff assignment, and after the 1992 season, referee Dale Hamer was assigned to the Philadelphia Eagles - New Orleans Saints wild card game in New Orleans. Officials want to get in and get out without any recognition, but when John Madden is giving praise

Eagles and Bears meet in the playoffs 30 years after the Fog Bowl

History

by Mark Schultz - January 4, 2019January 4, 2019 04620

This weekend the Philadelphia Eagles travel to Chicago to play the Bears in the NFC playoffs. Thirty years and a week ago, the Eagles and Bears played in the very same stadium in the most bizarre weather-related game in NFL history. The Chicago Bears and the Philadelphia Eagles didn't like each

Eagles could not get second life from leverage call

Calls
Week 1

by Ben Austro - September 15, 2015September 15, 2015 03622

Week 1: Eagles at Falcons (video)In the first game of the Monday night doubleheader, a seesaw battle headed to the end of the fourth quarter with the Eagles attempting a go-ahead 44-yard field goal. The field goal sails wide right as Falcons linebacker Kroy Biermann leaps over the line into

Flopping for flag can flip flag in face of flopper

Follow-up

by Mark Schultz - December 5, 2014June 26, 2015 03756

If you are a fan of basketball, you are well aware of flopping -- the art of exaggerating contact to try to draw a foul on your opponent.Â Well, the art of flopping is also alive and well in the NFL, fans just haven't heard a referee call it such.

Week 8 officiating video: crackback blocks, official timeouts

News

by Josh Lewis - October 31, 2014November 1, 2014 03363

#457964914 / gettyimages.com NFL vice president of officiating Dean Blandino today released the Week 8 media video. Topics this week included interception/touchback rules, crackback blocks, and timing rules (video download). Low blocks and crackback blocks were a topic of discussion during the Cardinals-Eagles game. The rule is that any player that is

Week 6 officiating video: preventative officiating is the accepted mechanic

by Ben Austro - October 17, 2014October 17, 2014 84168

Dean Blandino, the NFL vice president of officiating, released his weekly media tape discussing the calls of the previous week (video download). First, Blandino addressed the preventative officiating mechanics of umpire Carl Paganelli signaling to Patriots linebacker Dont'a Hightower that he was in an illegal formation over center on the Jets

Roundtable: Was Chris Baker ejected in error?

News

by Ben Austro - September 27, 2014September 27, 2014 23789

The fight in the Week 3 game in Philadelphia has lingering questions, despite our multiple-point breakdown of the play, and it swirls around the illegal hit called on Washington defensive lineman Chris Baker. Troy Vincent, the first-season executive vice president of football operations, addressed the hit earlier this week. "You can

5 observations from Wild Card weekend

by Ben Austro - January 7, 2014January 7, 2014 14590

After wild card weekend, it always strikes me -- only seven more meaningful football games this year. Â In an attempt not to get too maudlin, here are five things that stuck out to me in regard to the officiating this past Wild Card weekend. Jeff Triplette's crew called an awesome game Triplette,

Wild Card quick calls: Saints at Eagles

by Football Zebras staff - January 4, 2014August 22, 2016 03404

NFC Wild Card PlayoffFollow us here for rolling coverage of the calls and rules interpretations of the Saints-Eagles Wild Card Playoff game from Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia. (If you see continue reading below, click it to see the entire feed.)If you have any questions or comments, use the comments