Following the New York Jets’ 23-20 loss to the Buffalo Bills, quarterback Aaron Rodgers criticized NFL officials for how they called the game.
There were 22 accepted penalties in the game, multiple penalties that were not accepted and several offsetting penalties. Officials took the main stage and Rodgers had the perfect word to describe it.
Ridiculous.
“It seemed a little ridiculous,” Rodgers told the media.
One call that Rodgers specifically called out? The roughing-the-passer call that went against Bills defensive end A.J. Epenesa.
“Some of them seemed really bad,” Rodgers added. “Including the roughing passer on me. That’s not roughing the passer.”
Here’s a look at what Rodgers said about the officiating post-game.
In game, it seemed as though Rodgers told Epenesa that the officials’ call on him was soft and that he didn’t agree with it. Stating it publicly post-game to the media was a commendable move by the veteran quarterback.
The penalty came on third down and should have allowed the Bills to get off the field. Instead, officials extended the Jets’ drive which allowed New York to ultimately tie the game in the third quarter.
Rodgers wasn’t alone in his assessment. Following the call, multiple media members referred to it as the “worst roughing the quarterback call in NFL history.” Had the Bills lost that game, there would have been plenty of discussion on television and radio shows over the controversial call. If anything, the NFL needs to consider making roughing the quarterback reviewable in the offseason.