Darlings Again, Officially
Roger Dier
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Officiating this season has been horrible for 31 teams in the NFL. The only franchise that seems to be benefiting from this rash of bad officiating has their home offices located at 1265 Lombardi Avenue.
The league won’t say it, but the league’s on-the-field officials have: The Green Bay Packers are once again the darlings of the NFL.
Against the Vikings in Week 2, Vikings running back Dalvin Cook was deemed guilty of a phantom pass interference penalty just before the first half that would have made the score, with an extra point, 21-14. But the NFL brain trust sitting in New York decided to take that touchdown away from the Vikings. Minnesota settled for a field goal. That was kind of important in Green Bay’s 21-16 win.
The following week against Denver, the Broncos’ back Royce Freeman scored a second-quarter touchdown after an 18-yard run, but a late flag dropped to nullify that touchdown. Denver settled for a field goal. That was kind of important in Green Bay’s 27-16 win.
Want more evidence Green Bay is favored by NFL officials? According to NFLPenalties.com, the Packers lead the NFL in what they refer to as “beneficiary yards” this year. Those are the number of penalty yards called on Green Bay opponents. How many yards you ask? Green Bay has gained 501 yards through penalties.
The woebegone Detroit Lions, who suffered from officiating pornography Monday night in Green Bay, are last in the league in getting help from officials. Detroit has only gained 243 yards from flags on opponents. Our Minnesota Vikings are in the middle of the pack with 341 yards gained via penalty.
But the word is out, the league has spoken. In 2019, when teams play the Packers, especially in Green Bay, they shouldn’t count on getting an equitable shake from the people whose one job is to make it fair.
Heck, we’d settle for the league making it seem fair. But this season, NFL officiating has become, and remains, unseemly.
Photo Credit: ESPN’s Monday Night Football
Roger Dier is a Wisconsin-based PurplePTSD.com contributor.