In Sunday’s game, in which the Miami Dolphins took on the Buffalo Bills, there were many calls made by the refs that definitely came as a shock to both the fans and players. Buffalo’s first penalty came within the first quarter, where they were penalized for a defensive offsides. In the end, Buffalo finished with 11 penalties for 93 yards, which is staggering in numbers.
The first semi-questionable call came in the first quarter on a play in which Sean Smith caused Stevie Johnson to fumble the ball. The question that arose was whether Johnson actually had control of the ball before it was stripped away. The refs ruled in favor of the fumble and the play stood as called. Later in the first quarter, Reggie Bush scored a TD that was reviewed because it seemed as if his foot went out of bounds before he leaped. On the replay screen both fans and players could see that he kicked up some of the white sideline turf, but in the end the play held as a TD.
During the second quarter, Ryan Tannehill made a run at the endzone where he fumbled the ball before he made it to the pylon. It looked as if he fumbled the ball outside the endzone which would be considered a touchback, but the refs ruled that it went out before it reached the endzone. This play had inconclusive evidence to overturn so Miami kept the ball which later led to a TD by Reggie Bush.
Next, during the 3rd quarter of play, there was a fumble by Dorin Dickerson caused by Carlos Dansby. The replay assistant challenged the play, but once again the referees decided that the play would stand as called. In Miami’s next drive after the fumble recovery, a very questionable play call came about. Ryan Tannehill threw the ball to Lamar Miller that was ruled an incomplete pass. Buffalo challenged because the pass seemed to be a lateral, but the referees stated that because Tannehill was being hit by defensive player as he threw the ball it was an incomplete pass. The rule states that a defensive player alters the path of the ball and therefore it would not matter if the ball went backward, as long as Tannehill was throwing it to a receiver.
Miami’s first penalty did not come until the fourth quarter where they were called for a neutral zone infraction. They finished the game with 3 penalties for 25 yards. At least these refs are still better than the replacement refs on game calling and protecting players.
