After Further Review: Jets-Seahawks

by Site Admin

By popular demand, we're again going to have a post after each game that breaks down some of the controversial decisions from the officiating crew in the game.

Penalty Count

Seahawks 5-50 (leading to two Jets first downs)

Jets 12-83 (leading to four Seahawks first downs)

Note: This does not include penalties that are declined or off-set.

Plays where the call was obvious, uncontroversial or not visible on broadcast footage

Jets Penalties

  • Alijah Vera-Tucker illegal man downfield. The timing was a little off on this play, which got extended but Vera-Tucker also stumbled forwards as he blocked his man.
  • Garrett Wilson false start. Flinched as Aaron Rodgers was changing the play.
  • Pass interference on Chuck Clark. Obvious grab on DK Metcalf in the end zone.
  • Illegal formation on Carter Warren. Lined up too deep/upright so his helmet was too far back.
  • Delay of game. This was Xavier Gipson's fault because he ran to the wrong spot as Rodgers changed the play.
  • 12 men on the field on 4th-and-6. Also Gipson's fault as he took the field to return a punt but Seattle kept their offense out there.
  • Qwan'tez Stiggers defensive pass interference on 4th down. There wasn't an adequate replay of this although there was clearly plenty of contact at the catch-point. It's theoretically possible Stiggers was going after a ball he had every right to make a play on, though.
  • Will McDonald lined up in the neutral zone. This is something he keeps doing, sometimes getting away with it.
  • Unsportsmanlike conduct on Quinnen Williams for contact with an official. This was offset against another penalty. The penalty was actually on Jalen Mills and the official gamebook corrected this.
  • Illegal shift on Davante Adams. Had to adjust his position as he realized both he and Wilson were on the line of scrimmage and wasn't set for a second before the snap.

Seahawks Penalties

  • Holding penalties on both Abraham Lucas and Sataoa Laumea to negate a big run. Lucas reached across a penetrating Javon Kinlaw to prevent him getting into the backfield and Laumea grabbed outside on Quincy Williams, causing him to miss a tackle in the hole.
  • Neutral zone infraction on Roy Robertson-Harris. The Jets opted to accept this penalty so it was 1st-and-5 rather than 2nd-and-2 but it worked out as they got the first down anyway.
  • Roughing the passer on Dre'Mont Jones. About as clear as you could get - a late forearm shiver up high.
  • Laumea false start. Early flinch.
  • Personal foul on AJ Barner after Zach Charbonnet's game-winning touchdown. This was offset anyway.

Penalties warranting further discussion or explanation

Jets Penalties

  • Defensive holding on DJ Reed. Reed, who complained about the officiating after the game, made plenty of contact with his man more than five yards down the field, but this was after the quarterback was outside the pocket so illegal contact cannot be called. There was nothing you could describe as a clear grab until it was obvious Geno Smith was going to run and the receiver had engaged with him as a blocker.
  • Neutral zone infraction on Leonard Taylor III to negate 3rd-and-goal run stuff. Taylor's helmet was in the neutral zone but his hand wasn't. And right before the ball was snapped, he actually leaned back a bit so arguably this shouldn't have been called.
  • Offensive pass interference on Adams to negate a 38-yard pass completion. Adams clearly pushed off at the catch-point but there was a ton of contact from the defensive player as well. This could have been offsetting penalties or even a no-call, although the latter seems unlikely.
  • Horse collar tackle on Solomon Thomas to negate a fourth down stop. Clearly grabbed the nameplate and started to pull his man down although he released this before the runner was completely pulled down to the ground legally by other players.

Seahawks Penalties

  • Leonard Williams face mask penalty to negate a sack. Williams didn't actually grab the face mask but brought Rodgers down with his hand inside the helmet aperture which still counts.

Notable no-calls etc

Here were some of the other notable missed calls, replay situations and controversial moments:

  • Pharoah Brown had a sideline catch attempt ruled incomplete as he did not establish control while his feet were inbounds.
  • Adams and Josh Jobe were involved in a scuffle as they both hit one another in the facemask but no penalty was called.
  • Adams had a 4th down drop which was originally ruled complete but clearly went through his hands and hit the turf.
  • Tyler Conklin did get his hand under the ball to secure a tough low grab.
  • The Jets used a timeout to avoid a 12-men on the field flag and Seattle used one to avoid a delay of game.
  • The officials ruled it was incidental contact as Quincy Williams collided with Metcalf. Williams was in a good position but there was some early contact so this could have been called.
  • Reed was screaming in Charles Cross's face after a running play where he ended up on the ground but no penalty was called.
  • The McDonald penalty would have negated a Geno Smith fumble which Jamien Sherwood returned 50 yards into Seattle territory but actually replay assist corrected this anyway to advise that it was an incomplete pass. Not sure why that was even necessary if there was a defensive penalty on the play.

Let us know what we missed - or misinterpreted - in the comments...