2017 AFC Divisional Playoff
Follow us here for rolling coverage of the calls and rules interpretations of the AFC Divisional Playoff game from Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Mass.
If you have any questions or comments, use the comments section of this post, or tweet us @footballzebras.
Today’s crew is headed by Ron Torbert.
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| Yrs | 2017 crew | College | Occupation | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| R | 62 | Ron Torbert | 8 | Michigan State | attorney | |
| U | 102 | Bruce Stritesky | 12 | Vinovich | Embry Riddle | airline pilot |
| DJ | 6 | Jerod Phillips | 2 | Anderson | Northeastern State | elementary school teacher |
| LJ | 9 | Mark Perlman | 17 | Vinovich | Salem | teacher* |
| FJ | 104 | Dale Shaw | 5 | Hochuli | Allegheny | pharmaceutical sales |
| SJ | 3 | Scott Edwards | 19 | Torbert | Alabama | environmental engineer |
| BJ | 46 | Perry Paganelli | 20 | Parry | Hope College | retired high school administrator |
*indicates full-time official
- Replay: Darryll Lewis
- Alternates:
- Clete Blakeman (R)
- Gary Arthur (LJ)
- Steve Patrick (BJ)
Seriously, Mark?
Even if the Titans were across, the Patriots were already moving.
Oddly, even TV agrees the referees have been less than impartial this game.
Ben,
Regarding face mask non-call, are you saying it was not a foul, or the refs missed it?
Ben always slants his bias towards excuses for the benefit of the referees. A couple of seasons ago, Aaron Rodgers had an open hand to the face mask called that resulted in GB getting another shot at a Hail Mary in Detroit. Ben excused it, since the player’s head was turned. Tonight, Ben excuses the call in the other way. LOL. Thx Ben!
Here’s the thing:
When a team (any team) is seemingly having every close call fall their way then fans will watch more closely EVERY call in their games.
And when there are reversals multiple weeks in a row in one team’s favor that draws more attention.
And when the “what’s a catch” question falls in their favor four times in one season that draws more attention.
And when that team is allegedly the best team ever fans start to wonder if that razor thin line between the great teams and the just good teams isn’t made a little wider by always catching those “breaks”.
If the calls are correct then there is nothing to make excuses for.
But often (very often?) the calls don’t meet the eye test of the fans or the commentators, and occasionally not of the former league officials paid to comment on such things.
I maintain that the NFL doesn’t care because they like the controversy and the ratings that such discussions raise.
The Patriots are coached by one of the best coaches ever. They have a QB who seems to have defied the passage of time and age. But when they ALSO lead the league in scoring drives aided by penalty and first downs by penalty it gets to look a little bit iffy.
And when they have had 9 penalties called against them in their last three games (as of the 4th quarter last night) while the opposing teams have had 25 for almost 300 yards it REALLY looks iffy.
No official ever makes a call for or against a team . I agree with opi. Idon’t know about the off side vs false start call.
No official has ever decided the outcome a game.
No official has ever decided the outcome of a game?!?
Try reviewing the GB-SEA “Fail Mary” game and read the NFL statement on it. Same official missed a key call and then without conferencing a fellow official makes a divergent call from that other official. But you’ll likely dismiss the instance since he was a “replacment” official.
The game is long passed, things can’t be changed except for correcting statements like you just made.
I stand corrected. No official has ever decided a game with the regular officials. I repeat no official had ever made a call for or against a team.
Until the players and Coaches. are perfect don’t tell me an official cost them a game .