Ball don’t lie: 3 worst calls from Week 1 of the 2021 NFL season

1. Officials got the Dalvin Cook fumble wrong. Twice.

It doesn’t get worse than this.

Should the Vikings have even been in a position to lose to the formerly-lowly Cincinnati Bengals in overtime? Not necessarily. Minnesota was expected to contend for an NFC Wild Card spot this season, assuming everything goes according to plan. That plan is already off to a rocky start for Mike Zimmer.

With the Vikings potentially driving for a game-winning field goal in OT, they handed the ball to their workhorse, Dalvin Cook. The Florida State product failed to hold onto the football, fumbling right into the arms of an awaiting Bengals defender.

At least, that’s how it seemed on first look. Yet, with the benefit of instant replay and an added official in New York who has access to broadcast views of the event, it was fairly clear that Cook’s behind was down on the play. Judge for yourselves.

Down.

And down.

It’s a little pathetic the Vikings were in this position in the first place. But despite playing a subpar game, they had every opportunity to gut one out in the final minutes of overtime. Instead, the Bengals cashed in on a turnover, giving Joe Burrow hit first win of 2021.

As inspirational as that may be given Burrow’s injury, it’s not without an asterisk given the call.