Did the first “Monday Night Football” game of the year have a major missed call?
The First “Monday Night Football” Game of the Year: A Thrilling Victory Marred by Controversy
The first “Monday Night Football” game of the 2023 NFL season is officially in the books — but not without some glaring controversy.
The New York Jets emerged victorious in a thrilling game against their AFC East rival, the Buffalo Bills, with a 22-16 overtime win.
It was a storybook victory given the context: The Jets, with all of the hopes and expectations in the world, lost their star quarterback Aaron Rodgers to an apparent Achilles injury just four plays into the season. Despite that setback, the Jets forced overtime and ultimately secured the win with an electric punt return.
It’s almost like a scene out of “Friday Night Lights,” with a slight variation.
However, there was one glaring issue at the end of the game: an apparent missed call.
ESPN, the broadcaster of “MNF,” invited former NFL referee John Parry to provide his expert analysis at the end of the broadcast. Parry immediately pointed out what seemed to be a missed tripping call.
You can watch the critical play and judge for yourself:
“You’ve gotta put an asterisk on it because there’s a tripping call that was not made. A trip, a leg whip, right near the 23-yard line, No. 55, which would have brought the touchdown back.”
ESPN’s John Parry says that Jets LB Chazz Surratt should have been flagged on the GW-TD pic.twitter.com/QwP10ArAAx
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) September 12, 2023
“It is [a big block], but you gotta put an asterisk on it because there’s a tripping call that was not made,” Parry said. “[There was] a trip, a leg whip, right near the 23-yard line [by] No. 55, which would have brought the touchdown back.”
Upon further review, it does appear that Jets linebacker Chazz Surratt extended his leg at the end of the play while attempting a diving block.
Furthermore, it seems that Bills tight end Quintin Morris, who was in position to tackle Jets returner Xavier Gipson on the game-clinching play, had his legs kicked out by Surratt’s legs, which should have resulted in a penalty.
However, despite the controversy, there will be no asterisk in the record books. The Jets officially beat the Bills in overtime with a punt return, regardless of the potential tripping penalty.
Ironically, this Pyrrhic victory for the Jets leaves the Bills and their fans with more hope for the coming season.
Although the Bills may have lost, they can take solace in the fact that their star quarterback Josh Allen had one of the worst games of his career. This indicates that there is room for improvement within the team.
Meanwhile, the Jets may have secured the win, but they also lost Rodgers to injury (latest reports suggest he has a torn Achilles and will be out for the year). Additionally, their backup quarterback Zach Wilson appeared overwhelmed throughout the game.
The Bills will aim to bounce back when they face the Las Vegas Raiders next week, while the Jets will have to navigate life without Rodgers as they take on the high-powered Dallas Cowboys.
Read more: Watch: Was the First “Monday Night Football” Game of the Year Marred By a Glaring Missed Call?
Source: The Western Journal
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