NFL referees once again became the source of fan fury on Saturday with a deeply controversial ruling.
On what looked to be a clear fumble recovery for the Minnesota Vikings that would’ve resulted in a defensive touchdown late in the fourth quarter, the refs ruled Indianapolis Colts running back Deon Jackson down by contact before the ball came out.
The call came as the Vikings were trying to complete a 33-point comeback, the largest margin ever erased in NFL history. Naturally, Vikings fans and those just annoyed by bad officiating in general were outraged by the call.
Just on an initial look, the ball looked to have slipped out of Jackson’s grasp into the hands of Vikings cornerback Chandon Sullivan. That it wasn’t ruled a fumble is pretty baffling, even for NFL referee standards.
Vikings got ROBBED out of a TD here pic.twitter.com/zlQm6qLdzx
— RunYourPool (@RunYourPool_) December 17, 2022
Well, as you can guess, folks were not happy about this one.
In Minnesota, fans pelted beer cans at the field to show their frustration with the decision.
Getting ugly: Beer cans flying onto the field in Minneapolis after another obvious missed call. @WISH_TV pic.twitter.com/uSjzxv7wUZ
— Charlie Clifford (@cliffWISH8) December 17, 2022
The internet was outraged at this display of officiating malpractice.
Worst referee game in NFL history Damn #skol
— Cris Carter (@criscarter80) December 17, 2022
Potentially the biggest comeback in NFL history, as interpreted by the referees
— Benjamin Solak (@BenjaminSolak) December 17, 2022
Nothing ruins the excitement of the NFL quite like the NFL & their referees!
— Sam Dekker (@dekker) December 17, 2022
That’s literally one of the worst calls I’ve ever seen. This has been one of the worst officiated games you’ll see. This is the #NFL, and these referees belong at one of the state championship high school games going on across the country. That’s has game changing as it gets.
— Jacob Hester (@JacobHester18) December 17, 2022
When something is happening in my life I don’t like I’m just going to blow the situation dead like NFL referees do.
— Jason Smith (@howaboutafresca) December 17, 2022
I'm sorry, you cannot be an #NFL referee and make that bad of a mistake. It just can't happen
— Pierre Noujaim (@TheNoujFOX9) December 17, 2022
NFL referees truly learned nothing from the Myles Jack Jags/Patriots play in 2018
— Mark Spillane (@MarkSpillane_) December 17, 2022
These referees should not be in the NFL. Three terrible calls
— Norman Ornstein (@NormOrnstein) December 17, 2022
Dear @NFL , what those Referees at the Vikings game are showing today, is embarrassing. You can do better, by train them how to referee a fair game!!!! This is ridiculous, though!
— Marco Hassler (@SplitRock81) December 17, 2022
These NFL referees are atrocious. Stop blowing the whistle dead and down. Minnesota getting hosed.
— Nick Kayal 🇺🇸 🎙 (@NickKayal) December 17, 2022
He picked up the ball away from the runner as the back was going down! How did the officials see this live and think he was down by contact? https://t.co/AYVa0hhYxA
— Doug Kyed (@DougKyed) December 17, 2022
This may be one of the worst calls I’ve seen. Proving, every team in the league is susceptible to terrible officiating. https://t.co/HUCXOXokz9
— Matthew Greene (@greeneHouse12) December 17, 2022
Why is the whistle being blown if you are unsure of the call? Let it play out then make the call just incase. https://t.co/0DVVT47t6M
— 𝕁𝕋 ❄️ (@IcyJettas) December 17, 2022
I still can’t fathom blowing this call and taking points off the board twice in a game https://t.co/Rg2NKakx85
— Taylor Kyles (@tkyles39) December 17, 2022
Absolutely horrible https://t.co/iS1vHjokbR
— Paul Yanow (@pyanowPPP) December 17, 2022
Should of been a Vikings touchdown, clear robbery. https://t.co/BxSYpQl6nq
— Robert Zoline (@RobertZoline) December 17, 2022
