The Packers Were Screwed By The Referees Again

On Sunday afternoon, the San Francisco 49ers beat the Green Bay Packers 34-28 in San Francisco.  Last year the referees blew an obvious call at the end of the game between the Packers and the Seattle Seahawks.  They awarded, and it was a gift, the Seahawks a touchdown, when the Packers’ M.D. Jennings clearly intercepted the pass in the end zone.  Instead of losing 12-7, the Seahawks escaped with a 14-12 win on a last second play.  The replacement refs were blamed for the bad call, which they did make, but the replay officials that didn’t reverse the call were the regular replay officials.

Yesterday, the Packers were screwed by the referees again.  The Packers’ Clay Matthews hit 49er quarterback Colin Kaepernick as he was going out of bounds, and was flagged for a late hit penalty.  As a result, 49er left tackle Joe Staley went after Matthews, and he also received an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty.  Those penalties offset, but since they were dead ball fouls, which should have resulted in a fourth down and 2 for the 49ers.  Instead, the referees judged that the third down should be replayed.  On the next play, Kaepernick threw a 10-yard touchdown pass to receiver Anquan Boldin, to give the 49ers a 14-7 lead.

Although the Packers were screwed by the referees again, this was not nearly as bad as the Packers-Seahawks game last year.  The play on Sunday happened in the second quarter, so the Packers had plenty of time to come back, while the “fail mary” play last year was the final play of the game, and directly cost the Packers the game.  The 49ers probably would have kicked a field goal, which would have given them 4 less points, and the Packers would have only needed a late field goal to win the game rather than a touchdown.  However, since this play happened in the second quarter, it’s very difficult to blame a 6 point loss on this blown call.

The National Football League did admit after the game that the referees blew the call, which of course, doesn’t change anything, but it was nice to hear their honesty.  I didn’t hear any uproar for people calling for the return of the replacement refs.  What is it about the Packers traveling to play NFC West teams, where the refs have to cost them points?  I’m sure it’s not premeditated, but I bet this cruel irony isn’t lost on the Packer organization.

I wish the referees were almost invisible in football games.  The fact that they have even more power in the last 2 minutes of halves is absurd.  No coaches’ challenges are aloud at that point, it’s up to the refs.  Coaches should be allowed to challenge anything, at any time, but should still only be allowed 2 challenges in a game, unless they win them both, then they get a third challenge.

Getting back to the game.  The Packers didn’t lose because of the referees blowing that second quarter call, but because they couldn’t stop Kaepernick again.  Last year in the playoffs, he ran for 181 yards against the Packers.  On Sunday, he threw for 412 yards and 3 touchdowns.  When your opponent scores 34 points, there was a problem with your defense.  That problem is that the Packers’ secondary stunk.  After cutting Charles Woodson, and with starting safety Morgan Burnett, and Casey Hayward, probably their best cornerback, out with injury, the Packers’ secondary was weak.  At least Burnett and Hayward are due back soon.  Their secondary better improve, or this could be a long year for them, in the pass-happy NFL these days.

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Sports With Frank Thomas