NFL referee Brad Allen and his officiating team have been appointed to oversee Saturday’s Steelers-Ravens game on ESPN, marking their second consecutive national TV assignment. This decision follows a week of criticism for their controversial officiating in the Lions-Cowboys game on December 30.
During the Lions-Cowboys game, Allen and his crew faced backlash for crucial mistakes, particularly in a late-game situation where Detroit’s potential go-ahead two-point conversion was nullified. Quarterback Jared Goff connected with tackler Taylor Decker in the end zone, seemingly giving the Lions a 21-20 lead. However, multiple flags were thrown, penalizing Decker as an ineligible receiver and Dan Skipper for an illegal formation. The ensuing call had significant implications for the NFC playoffs.
Despite video evidence showing Decker approaching Allen before the play, the referee maintained his decision, asserting that Decker had not reported to him as required. Allen argued that Skipper, who had reported as eligible earlier in the game, did not need to report again, while Decker failed to report and, therefore, was penalized for being an ineligible receiver touching a pass beyond the line.
Adam Schefter, an ESPN NFL insider, previously reported that Allen’s crew had been ‘downgraded’ following their performance in the Lions-Cowboys game. Nevertheless, they have been entrusted with officiating the Steelers-Ravens matchup on national television.
In addition to the Lions-Cowboys controversy, Allen’s crew also faced criticism for their officiating errors in the December 3 game between the Kansas City Chiefs and Green Bay Packers. In the final minute, they penalized Jonathan Owens for unnecessary roughness, alleging that he hit Patrick Mahomes out of bounds, despite contrary indications from the broadcast. Subsequently, they did not call a foul on Green Bay’s Carrington Valentine for interfering with Chiefs receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling from behind, a play that could have positioned Kansas City favorably.
The Chiefs ultimately lost to the Packers, 27-19, and these incidents have raised concerns about the consistency and accuracy of Allen and his crew’s officiating decisions.
Leave a Reply