By popular demand, we’re again going to have a post after each game that breaks down some of the controversial decisions from the officiating crew in the game.
Penalty Count
Vikings 11-80 (leading to two Jets first downs)
Jets 8-76 (leading to five Vikings first down)
Note: This does not include penalties that are declined or off-set.
Plays where the call was obvious, uncontroversial or not visible on broadcast footage
Jets Penalties
- Javon Kinlaw neutral zone infraction. Jumped across and then an offensive lineman reacted and flinched, so there was no free play. Notably this was the ONLY penalty for either team in the first quarter and came on the last play of the period. There were nine in the second quarter.
- Delay of game while in punt formation.
- Delay of game on offense.
Vikings Penalties
- Illegal shift from Justin Jefferson. Laziness from Jefferson who was moving upfield on his motion as the ball was snapped and you could see his shoulders slump as he realized immediately. His heart probably sank when the run (going completely away from him) went for 32 yards but would be called back.
- Illegal block in the back on Jay Ward. Brandin Echols drew this as he did a good job from the gunner position.
- Delay of game on offense.
- Fair catch interference on Akayleb Evans. Clearly clipped Xavier Gipson as he ran past him.
- False start on Blake Brendel. This wasn’t clear from the TV footage.
- Illegal block in the back on Ed Ingram. Blatant enough with the shove on Jamien Sherwood as the back cut back inside. This probably made no difference to the outcome of the play.
- Pass interference on Stephon Gilmore. Clear grab of jersey to prevent Wilson from scoring a touchdown, but he scored anyway on the next play.
Penalties warranting further discussion or explanation
Jets Penalties
- Sauce Gardner illegal contact on 3rd and 12. Maybe a bit harsh here as Gardner put his hands on Jefferson downfield but it arguably wasn’t a push, bump or grab to impede his route.
- Pass interference on DJ Reed. The crowd booed the replay of this because Reed knocked the ball away cleanly at the catchpoint but it was really obvious that had grabbed Jefferson earlier on in the route. After the game, Robert Saleh said he agreed that one of the calls on Reed was correct but that he would seek clarification from the league on the others. He was almost certainly talking about this one. Reed actually wanted a push-off but that was unrealistic.
- Pass interference on Gardner again. He had Jefferson walled off and it was a bad throw on which Jefferson made no real effort to get back to the football and Gardner didn’t really have time to get his head around but would have been able to if it was a catchable pass. Weak/Superstar call.
- Defensive holding on Gardner. This one looked fair, as he grabbed Jordan Addison when he broke to the outside on a whip route. Saleh may just have been referring to the calls on Jefferson specifically when he said he only agreed with one of them. The pass went elsewhere.
- Defensive pass interference on Reed again. Not sure there was enough contact here to warrant a flag, even though Reed was a little late getting his head turned.
Vikings Penalties
- Illegal formation on right tackle Brian O’Neill. This was actually Ty Chandler’s fault. He was the only offensive player outside O’Neill but was a yard and a half off the line.
- Roughing the kicker on Ivan Pace. Came in recklessly and out of control and hit Thomas Morstead’s standing leg which by rule is supposed to be a personal foul, although even when this happens, the officials often cop out and call it as running into the kicker which is just five yards and no automatic first down. Difficult for the Vikings to protest the call based on the letter of the law, though.
- Holding penalty on Dallas Turner on a punt. This was tough to spot but he wrestled Chazz Surratt at the line of scrimmage to prevent him from running down to cover the kick.
- False start on Christian Darrisaw. This actually should have been “everyone but the center” because Garrett Bradbury never snapped it and everyone else dropped into their stance. Not sure why they pinned it on Darrisaw.
Notable no-calls etc
Here were some of the other notable missed calls, replay situations and controversial moments:
- On the Vikings’ first drive, they were awarded a first down on a play where Tony Adams clearly stopped the receiver short of the marker;
- It seemed certain that Andrew Van Ginkel must have gone out of bounds on the pick-six but, apparently, he didn’t;
- Both teams had catches overturned by replay assistance;
- Quinnen Williams was blatantly taken down on one play with no call;
- Minnesota wanted a late hit on Micheal Clemons over by the sideline on Sam Darnold, but he clearly pulled out of the hit;
- Despite all the calls he got, Jefferson still wanted one more on Gardner; and
- It sure looked like there was a lot of contact on Mike Williams on the game clinching interception.
Let us know what we missed – or misinterpreted – in the comments…