At this point, one feels as if it would be easier to create the following headline macro: “Officials miss [OBVIOUS PENALTY] on [CRUCIAL PLAY THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN CALLED BACK BUT WASN’T.” That’s the state of officiating in today’s NFL, and it happened again with 1:03 left in the first quarter of the wild-card game between the New York Giants and the Minnesota Vikings.
On the play in question, Giants quarterback Daniel Jones hit receiver Isaiah Hodgins for a 14-yard touchdown pass. The only problem was that left tackle Andrew Thomas clearly and obviously left the formation early — by more than the nanosecond you’d think might be excusable.
LET'S GO!! 🔥
📺: FOX pic.twitter.com/j5ovl4PSR8
— New York Giants (@Giants) January 15, 2023
This wasn’t a close call — Thomas moved both of his feet before the ball was snapped, and this play should have been called back with a five-yard false start penalty. But given the laissez–faire nature of officiating in the NFL right now, the crew led by Adrian Hill missed it, so the Giants got a touchdown they shouldn’t have.
The only good news for the Vikings is that they’ll probably get a ridiculous makeup call at some point in the game.
UPDATE: Well, that didn’t take long. Here’s an uncalled hold on Vikings left tackle Christian Darrisaw against Giants end Kayvon Thibodeaux on Kirk Cousins’ nine-yard touchdown pass to K.J. Osborn with 45 seconds left in the first half.
Christian Darrisaw holding Kayvon Thibodeaux; not called. Guess that's the makeup call for the Andrew Thomas false start no-call on the Giants' TD pass. https://t.co/RTMI6Y7rJD
— Doug Farrar ✍ (@NFL_DougFarrar) January 15, 2023
Several coaches and executives, and members of the NFL’s Competition Committee, have expressed serious concerns about the sloppiness of officiating this season, but it’s not as if anything’s going to change on the field.
