While school soccer followers debate the deserves of holding unbeaten Florida State out of the playoffs due to a key harm and disqualifying Georgia following the Bulldogs’ first loss in 728 days, the NFL can preen over a postseason bracket that’s decided on the sector itself.
By the gamers and the coaches.
OK, typically by the officers, too.
An NFL season chock stuffed with erratic enforcement of the rule ebook reached bedrock in Week 13, which kicked off with Dallas’ 41-35 win over Seattle in a uncommon Thursday night time shootout that featured a phalanx of flags to go along with its plethora of factors.
Sunday’s pair of marquee afternoon points of interest featured essential calls and non-calls alike as the 2 groups with the league’s longest energetic successful streaks each misplaced.
In Houston, the Texans had a scoop-and-rating wiped off by a fast whistle of their essential 22-17 win over the Broncos, however additionally they received away with an apparent go interference that denied Denver an early landing that would have modified the tenor of the sport — and may finally assist lengthen the Broncos’ lengthy playoff drought.
In Philadelphia, the 49ers’ 42-19 shellacking of the Eagles was marred by a number of late flags and one unusual sideline squabble that resulted within the ejections of a San Francisco participant and the Eagles’ safety chief, who acted like a bouncer out in public when he received between the 2 gamers concerned in a warmth-of-the-second altercation.
The wacky weekend wrapped up with an apparent however unflagged go interference by Packers cornerback Carrington Valentine that denied former Green Bay receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling a deep catch within the last seconds.
Patrick Mahomes adopted with a Hail Mary into the tip zone the place security Jonathan Owens shoved tight finish Travis Kelce simply as he jumped for the ball that fell incomplete, leaving Green Bay the victor in a 27-19 traditional that shook up each the AFC and NFC playoff footage.
“The first 59 minutes were really well-officiated, in my opinion; we lost something in the end,” NBC guidelines analyst Terry McAulay stated, suggesting Brad Allen’s crew blew it by swallowing their whistles on the finish.
“You simply can’t play through the receiver’s back before the ball gets there ” stated McAulay, who additionally urged a uncommon flag ought to have been thrown on the Hail Mary as time expired.
“When you have a two-handed shove in the back, it’s overt,” McAulay stated.
Mahomes wasn’t about to take any photographs on the officers when requested about no penalty being known as on the go to Valdes-Scantling.
“Obviously, the guy was probably a little early, but at the end of the game, they’re letting guys play. I’m kind of about that,” Mahomes stated. “I’d rather you let the guys play and let the guys win it on the field. But it’s a hard job, man. We’re in that situation, I can’t be wanting a flag, I have to try and go out there and win the game myself and with the rest of my teammates.”
Kelce echoed Mahomes.
“I ain’t gonna blame this thing,” he stated, “on anybody but ourselves, man.”
Green Bay (6-6) jumped into the NFC playoff fray within the seventh and last spot and Kansas City (8-4) fell a recreation behind Baltimore and Miami within the AFC.
Although the Chiefs’ schedule is gentle the remainder of the way in which, this rearrangement raises the specter of Mahomes lastly having to hit the street for the playoffs after enjoying his first 11 AFC postseason video games at Arrowhead Stadium, the place he’s 9-2 with two journeys to the Super Bowl.
FLAG FOOTBALL
The Seahawks and Cowboys have been the 2 most penalized groups within the league main as much as their Thursday night time recreation they usually lived as much as that billing. Seattle was flagged 10 occasions for 130 yards and Dallas misplaced 127 yards on 9 penalties.
Including six that have been declined, 25 flags have been thrown within the first 40 minutes of the sport, two of which have been picked up after the officers huddled.
With referee Clete Blakeman getting a lot air time explaining all of the fouls, Al Michaels had the quote of the weekend with about 5 minutes left within the third quarter when he quipped, “We’re going to take the rest of the night off and let Clete Blakeman call the game.”
To that time Blakeman’s crew had stepped off 17 penalties for 217 yards, simply seven shy of the excessive penalty-yardage complete for a recreation this season, a mark that was eclipsed quickly sufficient.
BROTHERLY SHOVE
Eagles chief safety officer Dom DiSandro could also be a celebrated powerful man in Philly, however he drew the ire of San Francisco coach Kyle Shanahan after his altercation with Dre Greenlaw resulted within the 49ers linebacker getting ejected from the group’s essential win at Philadelphia.
“I tried my hardest not to lose my mind,” Shanahan stated. “I just can’t believe someone not involved in the football game can taunt our players like that and put their hands in our guy’s face. From what I was told, Dre did it back to him. He kind of mashed him in the face a little bit, so he got ejected.”
Greenlaw put his hand within the face of DiSandro, who oversees all security and safety issues for Eagles gamers, coaches and executives and is a staple on the Philly sports activities scene — the place he’s usually defending Eagles as they mingle at 76ers or Phillies video games or different public appearances.
DiSandro pulled Greenlaw off Eagles broad receiver DeVonta Smith after a catch within the third quarter. Greenlaw popped up and reached over two officers to the touch DiSandro’s face with a closed fist.
Greenlaw was ejected for making contact with a non-participant. DiSandro additionally was informed to depart and walked to the locker room to a roaring ovation from Eagles followers. Philadelphia coach Nick Sirianni apologized to Shanahan throughout their postgame handshake.
TEXAS TUSSLE
Broncos rookie speedster Marvin Mims Jr. was broad open for a 56-yard landing go however Russell Wilson underthrew him and Texans cornerback Derek Stingley Jr. wasn’t flagged by referee Shawn Smith’s crew regardless of launching himself into Mims with out even turning to trace the go and regardless of arriving effectively earlier than the ball.
There additionally wasn’t a flag thrown when Wilson received hit low on the primary drive of the sport, however Samaje Perine’s drop within the second half was in all probability a fumble. The officers stated his ahead progress had been stopped earlier than he let go of the ball, erasing a Houston landing and holding the sport tight till the very finish.
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AP Sports Writer Dan Gelston contributed.
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AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL
(This story has not been edited by News18 workers and is revealed from a syndicated information company feed – Associated Press)
