Nobody wants to sit there on a Sunday watching “ref ball,” but it feels like the NFL can’t go a single week without some wild, game-altering controversial call. Just last week, the Arizona Cardinals probably felt pretty robbed on a couple of offensive pass interference calls against the San Francisco 49ers in Week 3, calls that felt a bit ticky-tack. But honestly, those pale in comparison to the absolute wildness we all witnessed on Sunday Night Football.
The “Flop” That Changed Everything For the Broncos
Karma, apparently, came knocking for the Los Angeles Rams in their game against the Denver Broncos. Rams cornerback Josh Wallace made what looked like an incredible play, picking off Bo Nix. But then, wide receiver Pat Bryant pulled out his best NBA/World Cup impersonation, flopping hard and drawing a defensive pass interference penalty. On replay, it looked like an obvious offensive pass interference, but the flag flew the other way. NBC rules analyst Terry McAulay even said he didn’t think Wallace should’ve been flagged for pass interference, and without that flag, it would’ve been an interception. What happened next? The Broncos marched down the field and scored the game-winning touchdown. Talk about a gut punch.
Shanahan’s Flip-Flop on Rule Reviews
With these kinds of calls dominating conversations, San Francisco 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan was asked about the old experiment with challenging defensive pass interference from years ago and if the NFL should bring it back. His answer? Man, it was a trip. Shanahan said he was actually “excited” when they made pass interference challengeable back then because he always wants them to “get it right.” He added that it “sucks to have to live with the wrong way when you’re in the heat of battle on the field.” But then came the kicker: “Then after going through that year, I don’t think I ever want it back because it got too much and there was too much let them play, too much slow it down and see a little.” He compared it to challenging fouls in the NBA, saying “It just gets a little hard, so probably not a fan of it anymore.” That’s a huge shift from someone who initially championed the idea!
The Flag Problem Isn’t Going Away
It’s actually fortunate for the 49ers that the challenge rule no longer exists, because they could have easily been on the wrong side of it last week with those calls against the Cardinals. And if it feels like the Niners get the majority of the calls against them, that’s because they have during Shanahan’s time as coach. Last week, Fred Warner got hit with an unnecessary roughness penalty by the back judge. It ultimately gave the Cardinals better field position and helped them put points on the board. From the outside, it felt like a run of the mill tackle, the kind you see over the middle on every single play. It wasn’t nearly as wild as Bryant’s “flop,” but it definitely played a part in keeping the game close for Arizona.
The frustration with inconsistent and controversial officiating is real, and it affects every single game. Shanahan’s complete change of heart on reviewable pass interference shows just how complicated it is for the league to “get it right.” With flags constantly impacting results, every team, every player, and every fan just wants some consistency. Hopefully, the league finds a way to address these ongoing issues and make Sundays about the players, not the flags.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Niners Nation.
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