The yearly post-Super Bowl lamenting over uncalled penalties on the NFL’s grandest stage is a clear indication that the seasons are changing. In the aftermath of the Super Bowl, that delightful Internet coping mechanism serves as a signal that the NBA’s All-Star Weekend is fast approaching. Finally, we will have a significant event where officials refrain from blowing their whistles and everyone accepts the final score without a round of complaining.
Unfortunately, every single year, a vocal minority of fans who dabble as keyboard referees meticulously analyze frames in search of missed calls that could have altered the outcome. Every football enthusiast’s obsession with the Super Bowl is for the officials to become household names. However, for a substantial portion of the population, the presence of penalty flags on the field is a source of excitement.
One would expect this behavior from the San Francisco 49ers. Not only were they on the losing side, but prior to the Super Bowl, owner Jed York drew attention to the officials’ failure to notice Nick Bosa being held on a 3rd-and-5 play in a Super Bowl four years ago.
During the lead-up to the Super Bowl, Bosa highlighted the excessive holding by the Chiefs’ offensive tackles, but this is common knowledge. They led the league in holding penalties. Bosa’s complaints are understandable. If this were the old XFL, Nick Bosa would have his name emblazoned on the back of his jersey. As a pass rusher who ended up on the losing team in the Super Bowl, he is also experiencing a surge of emotions. Complaining about holding calls against the Kansas City Chiefs is like comfort food for grieving Niners fans. The moment an isolated clip goes viral, online communities adopt it as their entire identity.
If one listens to Geoff Schwartz, an expert on offensive linemen and a retired NFL tackle, the average fan knows less about the intricacies of what constitutes a holding penalty than Kyle Juszczyk knows about playoff overtime rules. Perhaps Schwartz is simply a hack who spent over a decade playing in the NFL, but I will take his word for it. Besides, Super Bowls tend to have fewer penalties called on the offensive line, but the San Francisco team also got away with their fair share of uncalled infractions.
There is no conspiracy. A defensive holding penalty on Trent McDuffie almost saved the Niners, but they failed to capitalize on this stroke of luck. Chris Jones fought through a hold while pressuring Brock Purdy on a drive that resulted in a touchdown for San Francisco. The officials’ failure to call an illegal man downfield penalty on Christian McCaffrey’s catch-and-run touchdown in the first half was even more egregious than some hold on first or second down in enemy territory, but who’s keeping track?
Grainy video recordings claim to show Bosa being held, but conveniently ignore the fact that he also lined up offsides.
Stop begging the officials to rescue your team. It is the 2024 version of complaining about Golden State’s illegal screens or compiling clips of ball handlers getting away with extra steps. Those who watch the zebras would find more satisfaction on the National Geographic Channel because this will always leave them disappointed.
The rest of the football-watching community found the second half of Super Bowl LVIII to be so fluid that most casual viewers even forgot about the presence of the officials. The only individuals praying for nitpicky penalties either had a vested interest in the outcome, had placed bets, or are simply neurotic individuals who want flags thrown at every single rule violation.
The average fan does not wish to spoil this gladiatorial sport by seeking constant input from referees. Why not demand more replay reviews while we’re at it? This segment of the football-obsessed population is akin to flagging down law enforcement to report a jaywalker downtown or attempting citizen’s arrests.
However, be careful what you wish for. Once the Super Bowl turns into a parade of flags, the rest of us will be left with an unwatchable viewing experience. NFL officials will miss calls as frequently as starting quarterbacks fail to notice open receivers while going through their progressions. To err is human.
Anyone who desires a sport officiated to the bone by artificial intelligence will only lead us to endure a barrage of offsetting flags that bog down every possession until the NFL’s IT Department adjusts the penalty discretion rating of their AI officials. Then, we will find ourselves back where we started. This may sound like a dystopian science-fiction scenario, but that day is approaching. Perfection is futile, and the future of officiating is just as bothersome as the past. Enjoy the Super Bowl in its purest form while you can.
You can find DJ Dunson on X… or not: @cerebralsportex
According to the Source deadspin.com