As is becoming a weekly occurrence at this point, NFL referees have once again made a questionable penalty call.
In the third quarter of Sunday’s game between the New York Jets and the Philadelphia Eagles, the Jets had a free play after the Eagles jumped offsides. Zach Wilson found Garrett Wilson for a nice gain, pushing the Jets down the field.
However, it was called back due to a blindside block called on Allen Lazard, causing the 15-yard personal foul penalty to take priority over the others and pushing the Jets back out of field goal range.
The problem? Blindside block calls are historically very weak and circumstantial, and this one was no different.
Do you agree with this blindside block called on Lazard?? Takes away a Jets free play. #PHIvsNYJ pic.twitter.com/QZCOaE6tj9
— Rate the Refs App (@Rate_the_Refs) October 15, 2023
The penalty pushed it all the way back to 2nd-and-23 and the Jets ultimately had to punt, with the questionable call killing their promising drive.
The fact that the Eagles are currently the last undefeated team led some to speculate that the league may be looking to keep it that way.
THE #NFL WANTS AN UNDEFEATED TEAM:
How the hell is this called as a blindside block. Complete incompetence. pic.twitter.com/tw3J3816Ma
— MLFootball (@_MLFootball) October 15, 2023
Another fan pointed out that this sort of thing seems to always happen to the Jets, pointing back to the team’s games against the Cowboys and Chiefs this year, both of which were loaded with questionable calls.
I still can’t believe that blindside block man that was so bad.
I’m so tired of this stuff happening every week.
Refs apologize after Dallas, blow the Chiefs game, and now this.
It’s ruining the sport.
— The Jet Press (@TheJetPress) October 15, 2023
Others simply voiced their frustration with blindside block penalties, in general.
I’m not a big “they’re ruining the game” guy but the blindside block rule definitely has me like that
— Quincy Enunwa (@QuincyEnunwa) October 15, 2023
hate that blindside block call in new york. he hit him in the chest and came from directly in front of him. if you can't see the train coming down the tracks on that one, that's on you
— Robby Kalland (@RKalland) October 15, 2023
The blindside block penalty pic.twitter.com/8U4tgndaog
— Tom Fornelli (@TomFornelli) October 15, 2023
