The refs had zero control of this game. There was back and forth jawing and shoving the whole game. Whatever fucking the taunting rule that was put in place this year actually is, they let it go all day today, except in two instances:
But let's give the setting for anyone who thinks these calls don't matter, don't affect game flow/momentum, or even out somewhere along the way.
The Pats get the ball down 17-7 after Buffalo scores a td in the 2nd quarter. They have a 1 minute, 45 seconds from their own 25 with at least one timeout, can't remember. The Pats pick up a first down on a roughing in which Mac gets crushed. On the very next play, Mac runs the ball for 7, gets hit out of bounds and the refs pick up the flag. Should be Pats ball 1st and 10 at the Bills 38 with 1:17 left. This is a huge possession, because Buffalo gets the kick in the 2nd half.
But not only do they pick up, they throw an unsportsmanlike conduct flag on Trent Brown. And now it's 2nd and 18 at the Pats 32. It's a 30 yard penalty, ends our half-ending drive and the Bills actually had enough time to try to score again.
The roughing penalty where Mac slid and got crushed again, and was then offset by another bullshit taunting penalty, THAT THEY IGNORED ALL GAME LONG, didn't matter as much, because the Pats punched it in.
But that was two personal fouls on the Bills, one called and one not, that literally netted the Pats -15 yards. That's just bullshit, especially given the shots Mac was taking.
But let's give the setting for anyone who thinks these calls don't matter, don't affect game flow/momentum, or even out somewhere along the way.
The Pats get the ball down 17-7 after Buffalo scores a td in the 2nd quarter. They have a 1 minute, 45 seconds from their own 25 with at least one timeout, can't remember. The Pats pick up a first down on a roughing in which Mac gets crushed. On the very next play, Mac runs the ball for 7, gets hit out of bounds and the refs pick up the flag. Should be Pats ball 1st and 10 at the Bills 38 with 1:17 left. This is a huge possession, because Buffalo gets the kick in the 2nd half.
But not only do they pick up, they throw an unsportsmanlike conduct flag on Trent Brown. And now it's 2nd and 18 at the Pats 32. It's a 30 yard penalty, ends our half-ending drive and the Bills actually had enough time to try to score again.
The roughing penalty where Mac slid and got crushed again, and was then offset by another bullshit taunting penalty, THAT THEY IGNORED ALL GAME LONG, didn't matter as much, because the Pats punched it in.
But that was two personal fouls on the Bills, one called and one not, that literally netted the Pats -15 yards. That's just bullshit, especially given the shots Mac was taking.