NFL commissioner Roger Goodell insisted the level of officiating in the league has never been better in a defiant defence of heavily scrutinised refereeing.
Officials have been heavily scrutinised for missing key calls in favour of the Kansas City Chiefs, who have reached their third Super Bowl in four years where they will face the Philadelphia Eagles. In a pulsating AFC Championship, quarterback Patrick Mahomes overcame adversity in his ankle injury to lead the Chiefs past the Cincinnati Bengals with a 23-20 win at Arrowhead Stadium - but the game was not without controversy.
Late in the fourth quarter, Bengals defensive end Joseph Ossai drew an agonising penalty for a late hit on Mahomes which ultimately led to Butker’s winning kick. Burrow was penalised for intentional grounding, which helped slow Cincinnati’s momentum, as well as missed holding by Chiefs offensive lineman Orlando Brown - but the heavily criticised moment came five minutes into the fourth quarter.
With the score tied at 21-21, a clock operator failed to stop the time which allowed the Chiefs to replay a third down five minutes into the fourth quarter. An official on the far side of the field ran out as Mahomes took the snap as he attempted to call the play dead, but none of the players noticed.
Bengals players celebrated the stop, Mahomes and the Chiefs offence went to the sideline, and punter Tommy Townsend ran on the field to kick the ball back to the Bengals until the news was broken.
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On the replayed snap, Bengals corner Eli Apple was called for holding, negating a sack on Mahomes and giving the Chiefs an automatic first down. There was uproar on social media amid a dramatic fallout, and Goodell was asked on Wednesday if the NFL was paying officials enough to ensure the level of officiating is up to standard.
Roger Goodell has spoken out on the state of officiating in the NFL“When you look at officiating, I don’t think it’s ever been better in the league,” Goodell said. “There are over 42,000 plays in a season and multiple infractions could occur on any play. Take that out, extrapolate that. That’s hundreds, if not millions, of potential fouls. Our officials do an extraordinary job of getting those.
“Are there mistakes in the context of that? Yes. They are not perfect and officiating never will (be perfect).”
Goodell added the NFL is aware of the widespread criticism aimed at officials and declared the league will continue to get better by holding officials to the highest standard.
His answer will undoubtedly be picked apart given the recent missed and blown calls, and the NFL commissioner will feel the heat should another controversial moment occur on Super Bowl Sunday.
The Chiefs face the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl LVII at the University of Phoenix Stadium in Arizona on Sunday.
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