The NFL has acknowledged missed penalties in the Week 2 matchup between the Philadelphia Eagles and the Kansas City Chiefs, sparking debate about officiating consistency. In a training video for officials obtained by the Associated Press, the league's vice president of officiating training and development, Ramon George, highlighted a clear false start by Eagles right guard Tyler Steen during a crucial third-and-one situation. The play, involving the controversial 'tush push' strategy, went uncalled, potentially influencing the outcome of the closely contested game, which the Eagles narrowly won 20-17.
George emphasized the importance of strict adherence to the rules, stating that any movement by offensive linemen prior to the snap should result in a false start penalty. He conceded the difficulty of officiating such complex plays but stressed that maintaining consistency and calling all infractions is paramount. The video also reviewed several other plays from the first two weeks of the season, demonstrating examples of both accurate and inaccurate officiating.
Further scrutiny revealed additional questionable calls. The officials missed a holding penalty on Eagles left tackle Jordan Mailaita during their Week 1 game against the Dallas Cowboys. In another instance, the New Orleans Saints benefited from a missed fumble call during their season opener. A backward pass from Spencer Rattler to Chris Olave was dropped after a hit, ruled incomplete. A review, if requested by the Arizona Cardinals, would have awarded them possession within the 10-yard line. This missed call, however, did not ultimately affect the game's result, which saw the Cardinals win 20-13. These instances highlight ongoing discussions surrounding the accuracy and consistency of NFL officiating and the need for improved training and clearer guidelines.
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Originally published at: https://www.nbcnews.com/sports/nfl/eagles-got-away-penalty-tush-push-chiefs-nfl-admits-rcna232375
