Bill-Jet 'MNF' matchup marred by embarrassing officials

A few weeks into the 2024 season, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell managed to avoid a mounting story line from the '23 season related to the league's executive crisis. After Monday night's game between the New York Jets and Buffalo Bills, he no longer has that luxury.

In 60 minutes in prime time, a harried, hypersensitive officiating crew threw 22 flags, many in quick succession from one play to the next. Many of these calls prompted equally horrendous make-up style calls, appearing to be botch calls on the field that were quickly overturned by booth review, leaving a desperate coach unable to challenge it (though that coach was likely John Parry, a longtime prompted by a challenge by an NFL referee and ESPN's former in-house rules analyst).

Here's how you can tell the game was poorly managed: When the league's broadcast partners, who pay a handsome wage to present a product to the public in its best light, are unable to excuse what's happening before their eyes.

Let's go over some of the more serious moments, all of which took place over the final two frantic quarters of the AFC East divisional matchup with first place on the line:

• With 9:32 to go in the third quarter, Bills defensive end AJ Epenesa was flagged for the bodyweight rule. On the field, the official called it an “unnecessary second act,” even though it was clear the defensive end was trying to get the ball out of Aaron Rodgers' grasp and then flipped off his back the second time the play ended. The call revitalized a struggling Jets offense and helped them drive down the field for points.

• With 4:47 to go in the third quarter, Jets defensive back DJ Reid was flagged for pass interference on a play that showed Mack Hollins just shoving himself into the cornerback in what would be liberally considered B-movie acting. At that point the chaotic flailing was borderline ridiculous.

• At the 5:18 mark of the fourth quarter, Jets defensive tackle Javon Kinlaw was flagged for backing Josh Allen to the ground in what we can only assume was a make-up call for the strong bodyweight flag in Buffalo. Later in the campaign, he was also fined for inappropriate conversation with an official.

• At the 3:43 mark, Aaron Rodgers basically caught the ball over the shoulder of a Bills defender and it fell to the turf. In the game, the smoke falls on the field. It is reversed during the replay assist. Bills coach Sean McDermott asked if he could challenge anyway. It would be safe to assume that Parry, who now works for the Bills, led him to that decision He couldn't because replay assists were involved.

• At the 2:52 mark of the fourth quarter, Rodgers skied a ball over Garrett Wilson's head on third-and-4, with the receiver largely unhindered as he made a layup-like maneuver in an attempt to punctuate his attempt. Bills defensive back Christian Benford, outside of a useless hand on the back of Wilson's jersey, did not appear to redirect the wide receiver or change his route in any way. Benford was flagged for pass interference, however, giving New York 10 yards and a new set down.

Both of those last two calls were integral to the extension of the Jets' final drive, which ended with a Rodgers interception anyway.

Both of these calls make sense during one, or maybe even an, NFL game. I wrote a few years ago The game is becoming increasingly un-officiating without giving these referees more time, more replay support or more tools to deal with the impossibility of spotting some of these infractions at warp speed. More than 20 of them, many of which occurred down the home stretch of an individual prime-time game when it became clear that the Crew had lost the rhythm of the game and were close to losing control of the players on the field, were inexcusable. .

Rodgers himself said in his postgame interview that both pass interference calls, including one that ended with a 260-pound man on top of him, were wrong.

Although it has been repeated time and time again, the moment the league became a vehicle for sports betting these officials were going to conduct blacklight-forensic-lab style tests on every game—and they would continue to become one. An important part of this conspiracy narrative is about the league's ability to sway the outcome of a game.

I don't believe the NFL is in the business of fixing games, and neither should you, but the league should be in the business of being so incredibly buttoned-up, so ridiculously thorough, absolutely convinced its own rulebook can't work its way into the mainstream and dent the product's legitimacy. What we saw on Monday was a lack of confidence; Nerves prompt some strange conservatism and then even need it all back out.

Monday night was a league dream without serving as a backdrop. Ridiculous, wind-whipped kicks hit the uprights. Rodgers tossing a Hail Mary touchdown. The Jets balked at their owner, who was convinced that firing Robert Saleh, a well-liked defensive head coach, would spark the offense. It was the perfect combination of pregame narrative and compelling product. total package. If the officials had stayed out of it, we might have really remembered that game.