The Tennessee Titans were on the wrong side of an incomplete pass during their NFL season-opener against the Saints on Sunday that could have gone the other way for six. It put the league’s officiating inconsistencies on full display.
It started back in Week 18 of 2022/23.
At the end of last year, in the final game of the regular season, the Titans faced the Jaguars with a playoff spot on the line. Jacksonville ended up winning by four and Tennessee was eliminated from the playoffs. The game did not come without controversy.
Late in the fourth quarter, with the Titans ahead 16-13, quarterback Josh Dobbs was hit as he threw. The ball came loose and the Jaguars recovered. Not only that, but they took it back for six for their first lead of the afternoon.
There was a legitimate case to be made that Dobbs’ arm was coming forward. The play would have been ruled dead once the ball hit the ground due to the incompletion.
Instead, upon further review, it was determined that Dobbs fumbled and the touchdown stood.
Right or wrong, it doesn’t really matter. The past is the past.
However, a very similar situation happened on Sunday that went the other way.
The Titans got screwed— either to end last season or to begin this season.
New Orleans had 3rd-and-10 in the red zone during the second quarter. Derek Carr had his arm hit as he was throwing a pass and the ball bounced about 15 yards down field. Safety Kevin Byard was there for the recovery and had nothing but open field in front of him. He likely would have scooped and scored, much like the Jaguars did in January.
Except the play was blown dead. It was ruled an incomplete pass.
Dobbs fumbled. Carr threw an incomplete pass.
The math doesn’t add up. NFL officiating is consistently inconsisent.
And the Titans were on the wrong end of both calls!