After Further Review: Jets-Vikings officiating

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

Vikings 3-44 (leading to two Jets first downs)

Jets 6-40 (leading to three Vikings 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

  • Corey Davis false start. Flinched before the snap.
  • George Fant illegal block in the back. This was a frustrating one because it was so unnecessary from Fant and gave the Jets a 1st-and-goal at the 16 instead of 2nd-and-goal at the two-yard line. It was a clear penalty from Fant who reacted to Braxton Berrios cutting outside rather than inside as the play was designed.

Vikings Penalties

  • Facemask penalty on Jonathan Bullard at the end of a Bam Knight first down run. Clear grab on the facemask.
  • Blake Brendel false start. Jumped early.
  • Duke Shelley pass interference on downfield throw to Garrett Wilson. A clear and possibly deliberate grab by the cornerback who likely knew he was beaten and wanted to save the touchdown.

Penalties warranting further discussion or explanation

Jets Penalties

  • Davis holding on nine-yard run by Knight. This came near the end of the run and was unnecessary as Davis held on to prevent his man from getting outside and probably didn't affect how many yards were gained. Since it was downfield, the penalty was assessed as a seven-yard gain and 10-yard penalty, setting up 1st-and-13.
  • Reed defensive holding on Jefferson. Probably a fair call, as he had a handful of jersey for 3-4 yards as Jefferson was moving upfield.
  • Gardner defensive holding on Jefferson. Again a marginal call but probably fair. There was no grab here but Gardner did impede Jefferson momentarily as he changed direction and Gardner shifted his position with his arm across Jefferson's body.
  • Unnecessary roughness on Jordan Whitehead. Whitehead came in hot and tried to lead with the shoulder into the chest, but there was helmet-to-facemask contact which was basically simultaneous rather than a ricochet and that will always be called. Even without that contact, this could have been called because it was a defenseless receiver and Whitehead launched into forcible contact near the head/neck area so there were multiple elements he could have been penalized for.

Vikings Penalties

  • Illegal shift. The official said two men were in motion at the snap which wasn't true, although the Vikings were rushing to get the snap off and Jefferson wasn't set for a full second after having gone in motion. The Jets declined the penalty to take 2nd-and-10 rather than 1st-and-15.

Notable no-calls etc

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

  • It's hard to believe there weren't any holding penalties on either team. Duane Brown got away with an obvious one and there were a few possible holds by the Vikings including at least one on CJ Mosley and one on Justin Hardee.
  • There was contact as White's second pass of the day bounced off Davis' hands and was intercepted. This contact was a split second before the ball arrived but close enough that you wouldn't expect a call.
  • By contrast, the contact on Denzel Mims' leaping catch attempt was before the ball arrived, without looking back at the ball and impacted his effort to make a play on the ball. That one should have been flagged.
  • Quincy Williams and Nathan Shepherd both made good clean hits to avoid a roughing penalty. Williams got away with one later on, though, as he clearly led with his helmet on a hit to Kirk Cousins' shoulder.
  • There was a bad missed call on Greg Zuerlein's 60-yard field goal as one played shoved Thomas Hennessy downwards after he snapped the ball and another jumped over him to try to block this kick. This is dangerous and should have been a 15-yard penalty. As it turns out, the Jets probably take the points anyway because with eight seconds left, a shot at the end zone from the 27 would have had a low percentage chance of success and then you've still got to make a 45-yard field goal.
  • Jefferson lost a fumble at the end of the play where he was looking to throw and wasn't contacted as hit the ground. However, there was contact on the way down so he was correctly down by contact. Quinnen Williams was blatantly held on this play though.
  • The replay booth was never going to overturn the spot on the TJ Hockenson catch at the marker. The only way that's not a first down is if he only fully secured the catch on his way to the ground but it seemed clean.
  • Wilson looked to be interfered with on a corner route near the end zone and the Jets wanted a roughness call on Harrison Smith for a late hit where he led with his helmet on a hit on Wilson.
  • A lot of Jets fans picked up on the fact that Berrios caught a punt out of bounds at the 25 and the official marked it at the 24 which is impossible. However, the booth did buzz down before the next play and moved it up to the 26 so that was rectified.
  • Finally, the spot on the successful Mike White quarterback sneak was obviously wrong and the overhead view showed that he obviously broke the plane.

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