NFL Refs Set Record For Most Penalties Called In A Season

[Prime Time]

https://www.breitbart.com/sports/2019/01/02/nfl-referees-set-record-most-penalties-called-season/

NFL Referees Set Record for Most Penalties Called in a Season
By Dylan Gwinn

Alex Brandon, Associated Press

One of the constant conversation topics among fans and media this season, has been how NFL officials have impacted the game more than ever.

Now, we have solid statistical proof for why that was such a prevalent topic: NFL officials set a record in 2018, for most penalties called in a season.


View: https://twitter.com/RickGosselin9/status/1080161201575870467?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1080161201575870467&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.breitbart.com%2Fsports%2F2019%2F01%2F02%2Fnfl-referees-set-record-most-penalties-called-season%2F

Those numbers are nothing less than staggering. If Hochuli’s crew worked 17 games this year, that means they assessed nearly 15 penalties per game. If they worked only 16, the math comes out to nearly 16 penalties per game.

Either way, that’s horrendous.

What will also stick in the memories of fans is not just the number of penalties, but the complete insanity of some of many of the calls that were made.

Most notably, the roughing the passer calls on Clay Matthews, one of which cost the Packers a game. The no-calls of a helmet-to-helmet hit and a pass interference penalty, that might have cost the Redskins two games. Not to mention the time the refs missed a blatant facemask penalty by Texans linebacker Jadeveon Clowney.

So, the problems are not just with the calls the officials are making, but also with the calls they’re not making.

If the players are committing legitimate rules violations, than the calls have to be made. However, as has been noticed by fans and media alike, too often the calls are completely inconsistent and nonsensical. This is definitely something the league has to address in the offseason.

 

[Jacobarch]

It's a lose lose situation. I don't even feel like explaining it...

 

[leoram]

Worst overall officiating I’ve seen since the replacements. Unfortunately, that’s the only alternative.

I would really like more penalties to become reviewable, particularly the personal fouls.

 

[HE WITH HORNS]

Worst overall officiating I’ve seen since the replacements. Unfortunately, that’s the only alternative.

I would really like more penalties to become reviewable, particularly the personal fouls.

Pass interference is the biggest penalty in the game, it has to become challengable.

 

[Jacobarch]

so you guys are complaining there are too many penalties and the game suffers from it and now you want to be able to review a penalty? So now the game takes 4 hours rather than 3? lol

 

[Psycho_X]

 

[bwdenverram]

I think some of the penalties on sacks and defenseless receivers has been a bit much this year. I get player safety but some of it has become silly. The game has become too ref dominated. They don't call holding (which happens EVERY) play yet if a QB gets hit just a little too hard it can change the game. At some point enough is enough.

 

[LesBaker]

Sloppy play has also contributed and we can point at the CBA in that instance.

As far as missing calls we see angles refs don't unless they are in the replay booth, so we see more than they even will. They need a few more guys out there.

 

[CGI_Ram]

so you guys are complaining there are too many penalties and the game suffers from it and now you want to be able to review a penalty? So now the game takes 4 hours rather than 3? lol

The assumption is you'll be limited in the number of challenges and require the use of a time out if incorrect.

 

[Merlin]

The NFL needs to take a stand on STOPPAGES for the good of the game. It's not fun to watch FLAG FLAG COMMERCIAL FLAG REVIEW FLAG COMMERCIAL FLAG FLAG etc etc.

Since commercials need to be there for income, it's crucial they control what they can control which is the referee-dominated outcomes of just about every game. Trying to get everything perfect is in opposition to a smooth and easy viewing of the product. They need to be looking for a balance there IMO.

 

[Ram65]

I think have show the numbers on penalties. Lots of off sides and false starts.

I would like to see the contact zone extended to 7-8 yards. At only 5 yards it is to easy to get a penalty.

They did ease up some on the QB hits. Minor contact to the QB helmet should be allowed.

 

[bubbaramfan]

I don't need to see the same commercial 15 times in one game. I already know after the first one I'm not buying anything.

 

[RhodyRams]

so you guys are complaining there are too many penalties and the game suffers from it and now you want to be able to review a penalty? So now the game takes 4 hours rather than 3? lol

if they get the "penalty" correct, then yes.. I don't mind longer games.

So I watch football for 8+ hrs on Sunday instead of 7+..not a big deal to me..maybe my liver, but not me

 

[jacktheripper85]

The penalties that kill me are the holding calls in the secondary when it’s 3rd and more than 10 yards to go. It’s horse$hit when your team tackles a RB for a loss and than sacks the QB on 2nd down and it’s like 3rd and 18 and the next thing you know the ref is throwing a flag because some CB tugged on some guys jersey for half a second and it’s an automatic first down. That is totally ridiculous and I see it happen pretty much every week in every game.

When you have a down and distance like that to convert a 1st down the opposing player should have to borderline mug you to draw a penalty in that situation. That’s what drives me nuts with some of these calls-the common sense of it and crucial spots in a game where a stupid call changes the whole outcome.

 

[Angry Ram]

Maybe teams should stop committing them then?

 

[LesBaker]

Maybe teams should stop committing them then?

Players and teams have responded to rules changes for years, while fans have screamed and cried out about "how can they expect them to change this? It's how the sport is played". Every time teams and players adjusted.

Remember the calls earlier in the year where players were flopping down onto the QB throwing their weight on them in order to hurt them?

That wasn't a problem after a handful of those calls, it just stopped.

Leading with the crown of the helmet was THE method of hitting WR's for a long, long time. Change the rule and it mostly went away.

The Two Rules of Change:

1. Change is inevitable.
2. Nobody likes change but a wet baby.

 

[Karate61]

They need "replay" for penalties. Officiating has been the absolute worst this season. At least 2 for penalty only replays.

 

[jacktheripper85]

Maybe teams should stop committing them then?

So my team can make 2 outstanding defensive plays and force a team into 3rd and long, than my CB or LB tug a guy for half a second less than 5 yds downfield and that’s an automatic first down?

Sorry but that’s just a lack of understanding and rewarding/bailing out a team that doesn’t deserve it. To me it’s one of the wotst penalties I see called in the game today. Like I said, if it’s 3rd and less than 10 yds I might not be as lenient but on 3rd and 18 you can’t reward a team if it’s a ticky tack holding call. To me it should be an obvious infraction to throw a flag in that situation and give a team an automatic first down.

 

[XXXIVwin]

Weird. Holding calls on the OL seem to have gone way down, but other calls have more than made up for it.

 

[LARAMSinFeb.]

Weird. Holding calls on the OL seem to have gone way down, but other calls have more than made up for it.

Seems that way; I wonder if stats support it. At any rate it's the non-calls that have also been frustrating this year (holding AD comes to mind), and especially if they're followed by a flag for ref saltiness just because it got pointed out to him--ask Fowler.