NFL fans torching Raiders-Bengals refs for awful officiating
By John Buhler
NFL fans are not enjoying the referees taking over the AFC Wild Card game between the Las Vegas Raiders and the Cincinnati Bengals.
Who knew it would be the Las Vegas Raiders vs. the Cincinnati Bengals vs. the NFL Zebras on Saturday evening in the Queen City, but here we are!
In a playoff game where two teams with absolutely massive postseason victory droughts are going at it, it is a shame that the officiating has been this utterly horrendous. It has gotten Super Wild Card Weekend off on the wrong foot. People are losing their minds over a controversial Joe Burrow touchdown pass, as well as a Hunter Renfrow catch near the sidelines. It has been rough.
People tuned in to NBC on Saturday afternoon to watch the Bengals host the Raiders, but instead got to see some tigers and pirates take on those blasted zebras.
NFL fans hate the officiating of Las Vegas Raiders vs. Cincinnati Bengals game
While the Bengals have had the upper hand throughout much of the game, the Raiders are not going away quietly.
The Refs in this game:
— Patrick Allen (@RPatrickAllen) January 15, 2022
"I don't always blow my whistle when I'm supposed to but when I do blow my whistle, I blow it at the wrong time. #Bengals #Raiders pic.twitter.com/sdUuABNN1p
I’d be very upset if I was on the Raiders. On the Bengals though so… what whistle? https://t.co/zKZ8coU7PP
— Tone Digs (@ToneDigz) January 15, 2022
By letter of the law, this is a dead ball for the #Bengals. Obviously it was an officiating mistake. Question is did it impact the coverage by the #Raiders? pic.twitter.com/vWHjeLTKjU
— Charles Robinson (@CharlesRobinson) January 15, 2022
Do the refs get the same feed as TV...Clear catch...3 feet and tuck, along with player turning up. @NFL call me...Please...#Raiders #Bengals pic.twitter.com/3Od5aqHePo
— Donnie 'RightSide' Seymour (@RightSideVP) January 15, 2022
With it being a breakthrough season for the Bengals, they are expected to contend for future AFC North crowns with Burrow as their emerging franchise quarterback.
Oh wow yeah, there definitely was a whistle there. By rule, that TD should have been dead ball.
— Brett Kollmann (@BrettKollmann) January 15, 2022
Refs probably just didn’t want to cost the Bengals a TD because of their own actions. Rough luck for the Raiders.
pic.twitter.com/AIs08180Qo
The referees in Raiders/Bengals pic.twitter.com/LjZREvFJPU
— PointsBet Sportsbook (@PointsBetUSA) January 15, 2022
These refs are having the time of the life
— Frank Fleming (@NjTank99) January 15, 2022
Its the Jerome Boger show featuring the Raiders and Bengals
Was there not a whistle?
— Matt Verderame (@MattVerderame) January 15, 2022
As for the Raiders, this has been a year defined by adversity and perseverance, as this team overcame all the odds just to even be here.
The raiders absolutely got robbed of the bengals getting robbed
— Luke Braun (@LukeBraunNFL) January 15, 2022
I don’t know whether the Bengals or Raiders will win this game. But the officials will be the third best team on the field.
— Ed Werder (@WerderEdESPN) January 15, 2022
Why do the Bengals have to use a challenge there but not the Raiders on the play before?
— Computer Cowboy (@benbbaldwin) January 15, 2022
Ultimately, it would be a shame if horrendous officiating ended up being the reason why a team won or lost this game. It has been 19 years since the Raiders last won a postseason game and it has been even longer for the Bengals, who are still riding a league-worst 31-year playoff victory drought. One team will advance, but let’s hope the loser is not absolutely bitter at the officials.
Let’s hope the remaining playoff games are nowhere near as bad from an officiating standpoint.
Related Story. Watch Bengals’ C.J. Uzomah hit Ickey Shuffle after first TD of playoffs. light