NFL officials called more flags

Chances are if you’ve watched any NFL games this year you’ve noticed that the officials have been very busy throwing flags on plays that seemed to not warrant the calls that were made.

Packers-Lions game tight

That continued during Sunday’s Week 7 action, including in the Packers-Lions game that came right down to the wire in Detroit.

Tom Brady on call

Tom Brady was on the call of that NFC North showdown for Fox; a few times he spoke for the fans, as he ripped the officiating after three controversial calls were made in the second…

First controversial call

The first call that had Brady questioning the refs happened in the third quarter when Green Bay’s Brenton Cox Jr. was called for roughing the passer after he barely hit Jared Goff.

Brady’s first reaction

Not much at all, I’m coming off the block. His face is buried. I don’t know about that. I mean, that’s a tough one.

“Not much at all,” Brady said while looking at the replay. “It’s coming off the block. His face is buried. I don’t know about that. I mean, that’s a tough one.”

Second controversial call

Then in the fourth quarter, Brady got even more upset when Detroit’s Derrick Barnes was called for unnecessary roughness after he hit Packers running back MarShawn Lloyd following an incomplete pass in the middle of…

Brady’s second reaction

What?There’s no way.Oh, come on, man.Come on.[Jordan] Love throws it over the middle.There’s linebackers in the middle.He’s just turning his right shoulder away from it.That’s allowed 99 out of 100 [times].

“What?” Brady said. “There’s no way. Oh, come on, man. Come on. [Jordan] Love throws it over the middle. There’s linebackers in the middle. He’s just turning his right shoulder away from it. That’s allowed 99 out of 100 [times]. It’s a bang-bang play.”

Third controversial call

Then in the final minutes of the game, Goff hit Sam LaPorta for an 18-yard gain but the Lions got an additional 15 yards tacked on when Packers defensive tackle Karl Brooks was called for…

Brady’s third reaction

Oh my goodness, what is that?There’s no way.Brooks on the tackle.Kind of makes a great play.It’s a bang-bang play.He rolls off his body.It’s a great throw by Goff.It’s definitely not roughing the passer.

“Oh my goodness, what is that?” Brady said. “There’s no way. Brooks on the tackle. Kind of makes a great play. It’s a bang-bang play. He rolls off his body. It’s a great throw by Goff. It’s definitely not roughing the passer.”

Fox analyst agrees

Fox rules analyst Dean Blandino agreed with Brady, saying: It wasn’t late, they might have said head/neck area but this is not head/neck area.His head is up.That’s teach-tape tackle.That’s not roughing the passer.

“It wasn’t late,” Blandino said. “They might have said head/neck area. But this is not head/neck area. His head is up. That’s teach-tape tackle. That’s not roughing the passer.”

Lions win game

The Lions were then able to get down the field and kick a game-winning 22-yard field goal as time expired.

Packers star criticizes refs

Packers All-Pro safety Xavier McKinney didn’t hold back on the officiating after the loss to the Lions.

McKinney’s criticism

I don't know how the NFL's going to treat it, but I'm not a big fan of the refs right now.I don't think it's great officiating, if I'm being completely honest.

“I don't know how the NFL's going to treat it, but I'm not a big fan of the refs right now, I don't think it's great officiating, if I'm being completely honest. It's bulls, - a lot of the times.”

Seasonal officiating issues

The officiating this season has been rough, to say the least. Calls have been up and have often come at key points in the game, much like they did Sunday in Detroit.

Roger Goodell defends refs

Last week, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell came to the defense of the refs, saying some of it is on the players to not commit so many penalties.

Goodell’s explanation

Number of fouls can’t be an evaluation of officiating, necessarily.Because we don’t commit the fouls, right?The officials are there to call the fouls, when they exist.

“Number of fouls can’t be an evaluation of officiating, necessarily,” Goodell said, via Pro Football Talk. “Because we don’t commit the fouls, right? The officials are there to call the fouls, when they exist. So I think when you evaluate officiating, you don’t just look at total number of fouls”

Goodell’s further explanation

We look more deeply at, are they properly called? And I see that every week, sometimes multiple times a week, where we go through the plays that were called and the things we want to…

“We look more deeply at, are they properly called? And I see that every week, sometimes multiple times a week, where we go through the plays that were called and the things we want to change and the approaches we want to make”

Brady’s frustration

It was good to hear Brady voice his frustrations in the moment on Sunday.He arguably has the biggest voice in the game, with his success as a player and his role with as the No.

League office disagrees

But it seems like Goodell and the rest of the league office aren’t feeling the same way as the legendary QB, which is a shame.