Fansided

Worst call against each NFL team in their history

By Mike Phillips

ARLINGTON, TEXAS - DECEMBER 29: Referee Craig Wrolstad #4 reviews a play during a game between the Washington Redskins and the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium on December 29, 2019 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Richard Rodriguez/Getty Images)
ARLINGTON, TEXAS - DECEMBER 29: Referee Craig Wrolstad #4 reviews a play during a game between the Washington Redskins and the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium on December 29, 2019 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Richard Rodriguez/Getty Images) /
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GREEN BAY, WISCONSIN – NOVEMBER 10: Gerald McCoy #93 of the Carolina Panthers smiles before the game against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field on November 10, 2019, in Green Bay, Wisconsin. (Photo by Quinn Harris/Getty Images)
GREEN BAY, WISCONSIN – NOVEMBER 10: Gerald McCoy #93 of the Carolina Panthers smiles before the game against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field on November 10, 2019, in Green Bay, Wisconsin. (Photo by Quinn Harris/Getty Images) /

Carolina Panthers: Gerald McCoy draws a dubious roughing the passer call in Green Bay

The Panthers haven’t been in the NFL for long and the worst offense against them came last season. Up at Lambeau Field, the Packers faced a third and 13 at their own seven-yard line when McCoy and Bruce Irvin combined on a critical sack. Refs threw a flag on the play, calling McCoy for a very sketchy roughing the passer call that extended the drive. Carolina got revenge later in the period when McCoy stuffed Jamaal Williams shy of the end zone as the half expired.

Chicago Bears: The Instant Replay Game

Instant replay can often cause more problems than it solves and the Bears were victims of a bad replay decision in 1989. Chicago was leading 13-7 late in the contest when Don Majkowski hit Sterling Sharpe for a touchdown that one official ruled was an illegal forward pass. The play was reviewed and officials ruled that even though Majkowski was across the line of the scrimmage the ball was not, validating the touchdown and leading to a Packers’ win. The Bears won only one more game the rest of the season.

Cincinnati Bengals: Ryan Shazier crushes Gio Bernard in the 2016 playoffs

The Bengals haven’t won a playoff game since 1991 and getting poor luck from the officials hasn’t helped. One egregious example came in 2016 when the Bengals were taking on the Steelers in the Wild Card round. Shazier leveled Bernard with the crown of his helmet, a play that saw Bernard get a concussion and fumble. Officials didn’t penalize Shazier for unnecessary roughness, leading to a rule change two months after the fact to make that action illegal.

Cleveland Browns: Frank Gifford’s fumble wasn’t called in 1958

Did you know that the Browns could have had a spot in the 1958 NFL Championship Game, which has gone on to be referred to as the greatest game ever played? Cleveland was tied 10-10 with the Giants holding the ball with 2:17 to go on the Browns’ 42-line. Gifford caught a pass and took a step before he was hit and fumbled, leaving Walt Michaels with the football streaking towards the end zone to put the Browns ahead. Refs frantically blew the play dead, claiming Gifford never had possession, and Pat Summerall kicked the winning field goal. The Giants then proceeded to knock out the Browns in a winner-take-all rematch the following week, a game that wouldn’t have happened if the refs made a proper call.

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