How Pass Interference Can Ruin a Game

Photo courtesy of Wikimedia.

Photo courtesy of Wikimedia.

Sean Browne, Editor in Chief

The most polarizing call in the NFL is the pass interference call. Many fans of the game feel as if the referees are too liberal with the flag, throwing it every time of a defensive back when there is a ball thrown downfield. And other times not throwing it all when there is a clear violation down the field. Never were more both cases of that so abundantly clear than week six on the NFL season.

In the Giants game vs. the Ravens Joe Flacco’s deep pass to Breshad Perriman was broken up by cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, on a play where it could have actually been offensive pass interference because Perriman initiated the contact by reaching over Cromartie to catch the ball. However, the play was called defensive pass interference even though Cromartie made no contact at all with Perriman, he was just simply going up to try and intercept the pass. The Ravens eventually scored because they were set up at the goal line. This horrible call almost cost the Giants the game.

In the Falcons vs. Seahawks, the Falcons were down 26-24 and driving late in the game. On a fourth down, Matt Ryan throws a deep pass to Julio Jones and Richard Sherman makes a blatant pass interference that was not called! If it were properly called the Falcons would have been able to kick a field goal to win the game but the refs really screwed over the Falcons in a fame that should have been theres.