NFL officials completely embarrassed themselves during the first half of Saturday’s Wild Card game between the Browns and Texans. They missed an egregious pass interference call that absolutely should have been flagged not long before choosing to look the other way on a questionable late hit.
The first of two blown calls, or lack thereof, occurred on 1st-and-10. Cleveland quarterback Joe Flacco (who NBC repeatedly reminded fans is old) looked to his right and threw to David Njoku in the flat.
His tight end was open. Njoku would have caught the ball for a first down.
As he went to make the catch, Steven Nelson came flying in from the back. Houston’s veteran defensive back got there extremely early and the contact caused the pass to fall incomplete.
It was defensive pass interference. It should have been flagged.
There is not an argument to be made in favor of the no call. Especially considering that two different NFL officials had a clear view of the play.
The first was standing to Njoku’s front.
The second was much closer and stood to Njoku’s rear.
There is no excuse for the lack of penalty. The Browns ultimately went three-and-out on that drive.
If one missed call was not bad enough, there is a lot of frustration about a second.
It took place on Cleveland’s next offensive possession. Flacco scrambled for a yard or two before sliding.
He was pretty clearly going to the ground when Texans defensive back Desmond King II laid a hit and spun around like a helicopter. A late hit was not called.
— wow that was crazy (@CowardlyDoggo) January 13, 2024
There is some grey area with the hit. An argument could be made in favor of the no call in this instance.
However, it probably should’ve warranted a penalty. Flacco was going to the ground.