Sunday was both a good and bad day for the Miami Dolphins. On one hand, Miami defeated the Arizona Cardinals 26-23. On the other hand, Ryan Tannehill reportedly suffered an ACL injury that will end his season.
Despite their win, the Dolphins were very unhappy about the officiating after the game. Some of it has to do with the season-ending hit that Tannehill took, which didn’t draw an Arizona penalty:
#Dolphins QB Ryan Tannehill injured after receiving this hit by Calais Campbell. https://t.co/nPFuR5LymI
— Audible Sports (@AudibleSports) December 11, 2016
That was one of the many hard hits Arizona wasn’t penalized for on Sunday. while the Dolphins drew 14 flags for a total of 118 yards.
Miami players told reporters after the game that officials said Campbell was blocked into Tannehill, which Dolphins players thought was bogus (quotes via the Miami Herald):
Refs didn't flag Campbell because they thought he was pushed into 17. Dolphins players thought that explanation was ridiculous.
— Adam Beasley (@AdamHBeasley) December 11, 2016
“I was the one blocking him. It looked like it was illegal to me,” Dolphins tackle Branden Albert said about the hit on Tannehill.
“That’s what happens when you go low,” said Dolphins guard Jermon Bushrod. “That’s just what happens. … I don’t know, man. We fight to protect quarterbacks. That’s a tough situation.”
Meanwhile, Dolphins head coach Adam Gase said the play was a good football play, and didn’t see too much wrong with it:
One Dolphins player: "I never argued with the refs as much as I did today." They are legit pissed.
— Adam Beasley (@AdamHBeasley) December 11, 2016
“We’ve had to beat the team, the weather and the refs for a couple of weeks now,” Landry said. “It’s something that’s not my call to make, or anybody else’s call who is wearing jerseys. It’s those guys’ to make, and they didn’t make it.”
While the Dolphins complained to reporters after the game about the officiating, their fans understandably complained both during and after:
I do not ever like blaming refs. But that was an absolute JOKE of a call. Inexcusable.
— DolphinsDraft (@DolphinsDraft) December 11, 2016
Refs looking for a way to screw Miami once more
— DolphinsTalk.com (@DolphinsTalk) December 11, 2016
I've never seen a team get so screwed by the refs! Do better @NFL #dolphins
— Jordan Pegram (@Peagz7) December 11, 2016
Refs need a 3 minute meeting to call a encroachment … somebody please hire full time refs #Dolphins
— Josh Short (@ShortJt) December 11, 2016
NFL refs stinks today !! If Dolphins would have been Seahawks or Patriots the last turnovers would nerver have happend !! #NFL #AZvsMIA
— Pontus Blomqvist (@blopon) December 11, 2016
We could keep posting more Tweets, but there are too many.
