In a wild Monday night showdown between the Buffalo Bills and New York Jets, there were a staggering 22 penalties for a whopping total of 204 yards. The game ended with a narrow 23-20 victory for the Bills, but the real drama unfolded during and after the game.
Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers didn’t hold back when sharing his thoughts on the plethora of penalties that marred the game. He particularly honed in on a controversial roughing the passer call against Bills defensive end A.J. Epenesa, who delivered a hit on Rodgers that left many scratching their heads.
“It seemed a little ridiculous,” Rodgers said of the penalties in general. “Yeah, some of them seemed really bad. Including the roughing the passer on me. That’s not roughing the passer. Might as well play Sarcastaball if we’re gonna call those things. And I thought the one on [Jets defensive tackle Javon] Kinlaw was not roughing the passer, either.”
But Rodgers didn’t stop there. He also pointed out a pivotal moment in the game when a Jets touchdown by rookie running back Braelon Allen was nullified by what Rodgers deemed as a “phantom holding call.” The questionable calls had Rodgers and the Jets feeling frustrated and defeated.
The NFL has strict rules regarding the criticism of officials, especially from coaches and management. For players, the guidelines are a bit more ambiguous. While fines are typically reserved for those who question the integrity of the officials, there have been instances where players have been penalized for speaking out against officiating.
Rodgers made sure not to accuse the officials of any wrongdoing, but he did call into question their competence. The league office at 345 Park Avenue may have to decide whether Rodgers’ comments warrant any further action, such as a fine.
As the dust settles on this contentious matchup, one thing is for sure – the Bills may have emerged victorious on the field, but it was the penalties and officiating that stole the show and left both teams and fans with plenty to talk about in the days to come.
