2018 AFC Divisional Playoffs
Follow us here for rolling coverage of the calls and rules interpretations of the AFC Divisional Playoff game from Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Mo.
If you have any questions or comments, use the comments section of this post, or tweet us @footballzebras.
Today’s crew is headed by John Hussey.
| Yrs | 2018 crew | College | Occupation | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| R | 35 | John Hussey | 17 | Idaho State | sales representative, retail logistics group | |
| U | 115 | Tony Michalek | 17 | Hussey | Indiana | communications specialist* |
| DJ | 28 | Mark Hittner | 22 | Smith | Pittsburg State | investment broker |
| LJ | 101 | Carl Johnson | 15 | Wrolstad | Nicholls State | former full-time official |
| FJ | 33 | Steve Zimmer | 22 | Allen | Hofstra | attorney |
| SJ | 95 | James Coleman | 14 | Smith | Arkansas | electrical engineer |
| BJ | 111 | Terrence Miles | 11 | Allen | Arizona State | quality control manager* |
*indicates full-time official
- Replay official: Terri Valenti
- Replay assistant: Jamie Nicholson
- Alternates: Walt Anderson (R), Brian Bolinger (LJ), Aaron Santi (SJ)
The official on the pylon is very fortunate not to be seriously injured on Mahomes’ TD. It looks like he stumbled back into the sideline camera cart.
This game ought to cement the super bowl for Torbert.
This is the first time in years I have watched a game and thought that the officials had a rooting interest in the game. Indy got hosed so many times it seemed unfair. That and Braden Smith couldn’t block Dee Ford.
But … Torbert gets through today clean and he is the man.
Dear Mr Austro,
having followed the NFL for over 30 years and being a play-by-play announcer for almost 25 years, I can not understand that you congratulate the Hussey-crew on their effort during this divisional playoff game, as it was one of the worst called games I have seen in a long time !
They helped decide the outcome with some head scratching calls, mostly against the Colts at moments that took away opportunities for the Colts to gain some momentum.
You even point it out yourself :
Goode dove in an attempt to block the punt but did not hit Colquitt at any point in the process. Instead, as Colquitt came down from the kick, he landed on Goode with his kicking leg, prompting a flag for running into the kicker on a 4th down that extended the drive.
That this flag was thrown on a 4th & 3, giving the Chiefs a new 1st down that would ultimately lead to the clinching touchdown is game deciding to me.
Already during the first half there were some very questionable non-calls for pass interference involving #35 Ward several times (I counted 2 DPI and 1 holding where you most certainly see the stretched shirt of TY Hilton as Ward is not able to follow him).
As TY Hilton scores his TD, there is clearly an armbar/block by the defender, which also warranted a flag (which of course would have been declined – but if Hilton hadn’t gotten his 2 feet in bounds … there would not have been a first & goal on the 1)
There is a false start penalty called against #85 Ebron in the 4th quarter, when he clearly reacts to #55 Dee Ford lining up in the neutral zone, but then falling back (maybe the center had to snap the ball to make this more obvious but Ebron very clearly reacts to the neutral zone infraction … a flag once again taking any kind of momentum out of the drive)
Check out the hands to the face by #95 Chris Jones on #56 Quenton Nelson on one of his pass blocks of Luck … and also the piling on by #61 Mitch Morse when the Chiefs score their final TD …
Prompting me to ask the question: are officials allowing more in play-off games then during the regular season ?
Anyway, with the sample prove above, I really hope that no member of this crew will be assigned the Super Bowl !!
Looking forward to your answer,
Kind regards,
Jurgen