That would’ve been nice this season.
Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow has fallen victim to some blatant non-calls this season, some in crucial moments.
Notable instances this season include the two-point conversion attempt in Baltimore, where Burrow and two other Bengals appeared to have their face masks pulled, and a play in the Week 14 win against the Dallas Cowboys where Burrow fumbled.
Wednesday, Tom Pelissero reported that the NFL could soon add certain penalties, including face mask penalties, to replay review.
A potential big change: NFL exec Troy Vincent says the competition committee will discuss expanding replay assist to include certain penalties such as facemasks.
What would the standard be to put down a flag from upstairs? “That appetite will have to come from the membership.”
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) December 11, 2024
The competition committee long has opposed 1) Making subjective fouls subject to replay review; and 2) Allowing penalties to be called by officials who aren’t on the field. This would be both. It’s ultimately up to owners whether they’ll support the committee’s recommendations.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) December 11, 2024
Pelissero also notes that the competition committee generally opposes challenges for such penalties, but the owners will ultimately make the decision on if the proposal passes or not.
Making pass interference reviewable didn’t necessarily work out, but face mask penalties are directly related to player safety, so it could be taken seriously.
A possible outcome is an official from “upstairs” spotting these infractions, informing the officials on the field, and throwing a flag. If it is up to a challenge, coaches could use one of their challenges if they believe a foul occurred.
More reviews could make games take longer, but if these were something the Bengals could have challenged this season, they could very well have at least one more win this season. At 5-8, an extra win would go a long way right now.
