The New England Patriots defeated the Buffalo Bills 20-13 with probably the most outrageous officiating mistake of the year. Maybe. I wouldn't be surprised if something atrocious happened to the Titans or something, but if a tree falls in Tennessee and the game is blacked out, then it doesn't count.
Tom Brady using "REX RYAN" as a line call https://t.co/5bOKo46UTU
— Will Brinson (@WillBrinson) November 24, 2015
Do you think this even does anything, or is Tom Brady just trolling Rex Ryan? Looking for some X and Os folks to chime in the comments section as to what they think this presnap call accomplishes.
This was a one yard gain by LeGarrette Blount with 12:30 left in the first quarter. Conspiracy theories accepted.
Jeez, at this rate, Tom Brady may not want to wait until the end of the game to take that ice bath.
— Erik Frenz (@ErikFrenz) November 24, 2015
"Have some [fudging] pride!" - #Patriots quarterback Tom Brady to his offensive line pic.twitter.com/SXgBjkPzRJ
— Rich Hill (@PP_Rich_Hill) November 24, 2015
We're giving a lot of focus to the play of the offensive line this week and deservedly so. Marcus Cannon continues to struggle on the left side as this might have been the first game where he was absolutely benchable. In the past, Cannon's mistakes would always stand out because he would have an error or two every week that would result in a big tackle for loss or a sack, but every other play he'd be reliable.
This week he was awful. Atrocious. Turrible. He missed block after block after block and this wasn't out of place:
By the way, this is a lesson in how you /don't/ play offensive tackle, courtesy of Marcell Dareus. pic.twitter.com/f59WAuSSWw
— Rich Hill (@PP_Rich_Hill) November 25, 2015
The rest of the line struggled, too, although Bryan Stork definitely stabilized the pressure up the middle. Shaq Mason played like a rookie, Josh Kline missed a few blocks, and Sebastian Vollmer wasn't perfect. Maybe it was just the Bills defensive line, or maybe it was the fact that this was the billionith line-up and there's been no continuity, but the Patriots line needs to figure out what was wrong with their communication.
Easy come. easy go? https://t.co/ykIMDYmzun
— Lee Schechter (@LeeSchechter) November 24, 2015
BELICHICK: damn, another injury. booker, you're in. ME: but i'm not a footba--[finishes game with 11 receptions, 185 yards, 2TD]....huh.
— Ethan Booker (@Ethan_Booker) November 24, 2015
Sorry, Jonathan Krause, Josh Boyce, and Tyler Gaffney.
Get well soon, James Develin, Brandon Gibson, and Brian Tyms.
Wait, Seriously, stop it, Nate Solder, Dion Lewis, and Julian Edelman.
This isn't funny anymore, Aaron Dobson and Danny Amendola.
What the heck is wrong with this offense?
Tyrod Taylor didn't target Sammy Watkins once in the first half. Bold strategy.
— Matthew Fairburn (@MatthewFairburn) November 24, 2015
The Patriots offense could really use a gamebreaking receiver. I don't think anyone is using Sammy Watkins, maybe he's available.
— Aaron Schatz (@FO_ASchatz) November 24, 2015
Yeah, but seriously. Can the Patriots pry the hands from a stud receiver out of purgatory?
I think Watkins would love to play in New England. DeAndre Hopkins would rather have Tom Brady than T.J. Yates. Calvin Johnson deserves a chance at happiness. Delanie Walker could do wonders in this offense. Travis Benjamin would love to leave Cleveland. Danny Woodhead would be welcomed back.
Move back the trade deadline. Please.
Oh, and let's pile on the officiating.
THAT'S ROGER GOODELL'S MUSIC.
— Alessandro Miglio (@AlexMiglio) November 24, 2015
Somewhere Goodell is laughing and petting a hairless cat.
— David Wade (@davidwade) November 24, 2015
If you think deflated balls are more of a threat to the NFL than the putridity of officiating this season, you're probably Roger Goodell.
— Doug Farrar (@SI_DougFarrar) November 24, 2015
Dean Blandino thinks that was the right time to blow the whistle.
— Mike Dussault (@PatsPropaganda) November 24, 2015
To be fair, Brady was within like four steps of the sideline. pic.twitter.com/OeWsnrBhzC
— Chris Burke (@ChrisBurke_SI) November 24, 2015
Can we just play the rest of this game under the honor system? #Patriots-Bills
— Glen Farley (@GFarley_ent) November 24, 2015
I think the refs are trying to award the Bruins a free throw but I'm not sure.
— Jeff Howe (@jeffphowe) November 24, 2015
This is a borderline unwatchable product and yet none of us can get enough. It's weird.
— Mike Cole (@MikeColeNESN) November 24, 2015
I think the officials received more air time than Rob Gronkowski or Rex Ryan. More plays were under review than were for positive yardage. The officials picked up more flags than they got correct on their first try.
Hey, it's Tuesday.
— Doug Kyed (@DougKyed) November 24, 2015
Tuesday Morning Football
— Eric Edholm (@Eric_Edholm) November 24, 2015
Yeah, this game was an hour longer than it needed to be. Could you imagine having to rewatch this game?
Watching the NFL Network replay of the Pats-Bills game. Due to "time constraints," they cut out the inadvertent whistle play. Unbelievable.
— Michael McDermott (@mikemcdermott76) November 24, 2015
Yeah. It was so bad that the NFL just cut out the footage of the shenanigans of the officials. These refs should be fired, or forced to take Browns and 49ers games for the rest of the year.
Let's hope next week will be better. Anyone excited for Sunday Night Football against the Denver Broncos?
Anyone? Bill?
When you can’t quiet the crowd after an accidental whistle. pic.twitter.com/LO4VU4rIBz
— Josh Laincz (@zohf) November 24, 2015
On to the Broncos.