The New York Times is not a fan of this weekend's games.

[Rain Man]

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/01/21/s...sK7L_lKP_lxHXY

Selected excerpts include:

...the league’s bounce-back season was knocked off stride on Sunday, as officials in the two conference championship games made baffling, controversial calls that to some degree overshadowed the otherwise thrilling matchups.


The A.F.C. championship game in Kansas City got off to a controversy-free start. But as the Chiefs battled back from a first-half deficit against the New England Patriots, another officiating decision, midway through the fourth quarter, brought the game to a halt. It came when the Chiefs scored a touchdown after Patriots receiver Julian Edelman, serving as the team’s punt returner, appeared to have touched a punt that Kansas City then picked up and took into the end zone.

But after a lengthy video review, the referees determined that the ball never hit Edelman, even though replays suggested that it might have just barely nicked his thumbs.

Chiefs fans, meanwhile, were also aggrieved by a roughing-the-passer call on a second-and-7 in the fourth quarter after defensive lineman Chris Jones landed a seemingly innocuous slap on Brady’s shoulder as he made a throw. But a 15-yard penalty was enforced, and the Patriots went on to score one of the go-ahead touchdowns that punctuated the last part of the game.

As exciting as they were, Sunday’s two games left some fans feeling that asterisks should be affixed to the final scores, a sentiment that may tarnish some of the positive signs for the N.F.L. this season.

Much of the renewed interest comes from a bevy of young stars, like quarterback Patrick Mahomes of the Chiefs, and a bunch of scoring records that fell faster than you can say “Brady to Edelman.”

[SuperBowl4]

Time to revisit Marv Levy's "You've been bought" clip on YouTube - "What it takes to win is simple, it's not easy" - Marv Levy

[scho63]

I think your thread title is off. They sound like they really liked them but hated the officiating.

[VAChief]

Originally Posted by Hannah Barbarian

No mention of Berry grappling Gronk? Especially in the light of later JC Jackson's ticky tacky DPI?

Ah it's New York Times. Ok then

Or Gronk pushing off to create separation later with no call.

[Sassy Squatch]

Statement from the Saints owner. It's quite a bit longer than this but this is the most pertinent part.

Yesterday’s result is still difficult to accept for all of us. I am thoroughly disappointed by the events that led to the outcome of yesterday’s game. Getting to the Super Bowl is incredibly difficult to do and takes such an unbelievable commitment from a team and support from its fans. No team should ever be denied the opportunity to reach the title game (or simply win a game) based on the actions, or inactions, of those charged with creating a fair and equitable playing field. As is clear to all who watched the game, it is undeniable that our team and fans were unfairly deprived of that opportunity yesterday. I have been in touch with the NFL regarding yesterday’s events and will aggressively pursue changes in NFL policies to ensure no team and fan base is ever put in a similar position again. It is a disservice to our coaches, players, employees and, most importantly, the fans who make our game possible. The NFL must always commit to providing the most basic of expectations - fairness and integrity.

[VAChief]

Originally Posted by Marcellus

The roughing call was on 2nd down, I have hard time getting too pissed ass they likely convert 3rd and 7.

Except it was pressure and he got hit. It wiped the slate clean. Yeah, you never know how they would react, but third and 7 is a hell of a lot better than first and 10 and fifteen yards for free.

[VAChief]

Originally Posted by Bowser

As pissed as we are today, rightly or wrongly in regards to the refs, could you imagine being a Saints fan right now and dealing with that lack of a pass interference call? Absolutely brutal.

Absolutely, they overlook that play yet, Dee Ford's fingers over the line gets called.

[Nzoner]

Originally Posted by Superturtle

Statement from the Saints owner. It's quite a bit longer than this but this is the most pertinent part.

Yesterday’s result is still difficult to accept for all of us. I am thoroughly disappointed by the events that led to the outcome of yesterday’s game. Getting to the Super Bowl is incredibly difficult to do and takes such an unbelievable commitment from a team and support from its fans. No team should ever be denied the opportunity to reach the title game (or simply win a game) based on the actions, or inactions, of those charged with creating a fair and equitable playing field. As is clear to all who watched the game, it is undeniable that our team and fans were unfairly deprived of that opportunity yesterday. I have been in touch with the NFL regarding yesterday’s events and will aggressively pursue changes in NFL policies to ensure no team and fan base is ever put in a similar position again. It is a disservice to our coaches, players, employees and, most importantly, the fans who make our game possible. The NFL must always commit to providing the most basic of expectations - fairness and integrity.

Props to him and get ready for more game delays as challenging PI calls will soon be a new rule.

[Rain Man]

Originally Posted by Hannah Barbarian

No mention of Berry grappling Gronk? Especially in the light of later JC Jackson's ticky tacky DPI?

Ah it's New York Times. Ok then

Note to the social worker or relative who reads to this person: he is apparently interested in learning what the article says, so would you please read it to him, explaining any large words?

[kcpasco]

Props to the Saints owner. Clark should have said something after the Rams game that was a complete ass ****ing from the officials.

[kcpasco]

That pass interference was 100x worse than anything that happened in our game. How refs aren’t fired over that is a complete ****ing joke.

[Rain Man]

Originally Posted by Cave Johnson

That clip makes me very angry.

WWNFL, man.

The frustrating part is that the official who made that call ignored a much stronger slap to the face of Patrick Mahomes II just five minutes earlier.

I didn't gripe much about the Mahomes hit because it was minor and in real-man football it wouldn't warrant a penalty. But if you're going to give Tom Brady a free drive because the wind from someone's arm changed the air pressure around him, then you should also call a guy hitting Patrick Mahomes II in the face.

It's unfortunate that we're not getting a Super Bowl this year. This is going to be like the Peyton Manning Super Farewell Exhibition Bowl a few years back.

[Frazod]

Originally Posted by Superturtle

Statement from the Saints owner. It's quite a bit longer than this but this is the most pertinent part.

Yesterday’s result is still difficult to accept for all of us. I am thoroughly disappointed by the events that led to the outcome of yesterday’s game. Getting to the Super Bowl is incredibly difficult to do and takes such an unbelievable commitment from a team and support from its fans. No team should ever be denied the opportunity to reach the title game (or simply win a game) based on the actions, or inactions, of those charged with creating a fair and equitable playing field. As is clear to all who watched the game, it is undeniable that our team and fans were unfairly deprived of that opportunity yesterday. I have been in touch with the NFL regarding yesterday’s events and will aggressively pursue changes in NFL policies to ensure no team and fan base is ever put in a similar position again. It is a disservice to our coaches, players, employees and, most importantly, the fans who make our game possible. The NFL must always commit to providing the most basic of expectations - fairness and integrity.

I expect this to be the NFL's response:

Greater Los Angeles population: 18.79 million
Greater New Orleans population: 1.45 million

And they might throw in this as well: