The fix was in today? Yes or no

[PatsDeb]

While the officiating yesterday was absolutely horrible, unless the refs erased the game plan from BB's tablet (hey,maybe that's why he threw it!), I'll have to go with no.
PS we always call fan bases that blame the loss on the refs losers.

 

[JMC00]

That said, we sucked yesterday and the Bills outplayed us

Problem with that narrative, it changes if the refs weren't incompetent.

Edelman's long play if there was a hold on that, then there was a hold on buffalo's only TD which was on 3rd and goal and makes it 3rd and goal from the 20 instead of the 10.

Then the sequence that led to a 3rd down fumble when Blount had the 1st down 3 times and it wasn't given because of a terrible spot, ref's stopping the play for no reason and a ticky tack holding calling on a guy that had no chance on the play and if you are gonna call holding on that where is the flag for Gillmore holding Edelman in the redzone?


Don't throw the flag on the Edelman play and give Blount the 1st down and that's likely 14 point right there and the Pats are kicking a FG in the 4th at the buffalo 20 with 2 minutes to go to take the lead instead of going for it.

 

[JMC00]

While the officiating yesterday was absolutely horrible, unless the refs erased the game plan from BB's tablet (hey,maybe that's why he threw it!), I'll have to go with no.
PS we always call fan bases that blame the loss on the refs losers.

Again, we are pointing out their terrible inconsistent incompetence if that happens to come off like we are blaming the refs then so be it but you or anyone else can't tell me their inconsistency wasn't a huge problem for the Pats in that game. 13-17 points for the Pats wiped off the board because of it

How does buffalo get away with holding on their only TD and get away with a clear hold on Edelman on the pass thrown to him inside the 20? But Pats gets flagged for 2 holds on 2 plays that would have changed the game which was the Edelman 90 yard play and Blount's picking up the 1st down 3 times only to get a terrible spot, ref's stopping the play and a ticky tack holding call. How does Chris Long get flagged for hitting Taylor 2 seconds after he released the ball outside the pocket but Brissett gives himself up and the buffalo defender comes in high and no flag is thrown?

 

[GoBlue]

The NFL has the ability to control every game. And they do it when it fits the script.

 

[Silver Blue&Red]

Ask yourself if you think the NFL will express any disappointment with the terrible calls referred to in this thread.
(understand the NFL does review and discuss the officiating in games after the fact)
If you think they get an internal pass on the poor instances of officiating at the expense of the Patriots here, then you think there is bias.

There is bias in everything. It's human nature. Framegate would be one example. It's started with the jealously of, and anger at TB the moment he said "Maybe they should learn the rule book" (Paraphrase). IMO. I absolutely believe there was bias by the refs. Do I think it lost them the game, I not sure, but it certainly helped break the spirit of the Players. Call me paranoid, I don't mind. I've seen many non Pats games where I felt the same.

 

[IllegalContact]

LOL.....almost half the people said yes

the team sucked in every facet.......there was no fix

 

[IllegalContact]

The NFL has the ability to control every game. And they do it when it fits the script.

the why do you watch?

 

[The Brandon Five]

In terms of referee's and the fix being in. I have said it multiple times throughout years..

The biggest issue I see with refs in the league is just the lack of consistency across the board.

This.

If you are going to allow fighting, punching a coach, late hits out of bounds, then don't throw ticky-tack flags for holding, etc.

 

[archstanton543]

This.

If you are going to allow fighting, punching a coach, late hits out of bounds, then don't throw ticky-tack flags for holding, etc.

To be fair, the refs weren't on the field for the pre-game altercation.

 

[Danger Zone]

Would Goodell have been embarrassed to have the Patriots go 4-0?

Is he the kind of man that enjoys looking foolish or having his authority flaunted?

Yes to these questions doesn't mean a fix was in.. but it does mean there was motivation from the very top.

 

[Brady_to_Moss]

No it wasn't..we played like **** and when that happens..you lose

 

[brdmaverick]

If I'm not mistaken the Bills actually had more penalty yardage in the first half. One was a very ticky tack unnecessary roughness on the offensive lineman that essentially killed their second drive (causing them to settle for a field goal when they were rolling).

Yesterday was extremely ugly, but I'd blame the Pats far more than the refs.

And I don't really even blame the Pats all that much. THey've been doing well playing with what they've had to work it, the dam was about to break at some point. All in all I say we take our 3-1 record, and be happy with the return of Brady. So few times after such an ugly loss is there such great hope (Brady).

 

[brdmaverick]

Maybe I missed it, but was there a thread last week when we got one of the best gifts ever on third down, a pass interference call against the Texans on third down? Edelman (the one who was 'interfered'), didn't even motion for a call, now that's rare.

 

[letekro]

Never heard of Tim Donaghy, huh?

You should look up "conspiracy" in the dictionary because Donaghy was not a conspiracy. He was acting alone, for his own benefit. He had some vague uncorroborated accusations about the league that his lawyer submitted to the court in an effort to reduce his sentence. i will always believe that something funny went on with Lakers Kings, but that could have been officials acting alone. There is no evidence that the league ever fixed anything or was involved in any other type of conspiracy.

 

[aluminum seats]

Never heard of Tim Donaghy, huh?

I have...and that example supports my position, not yours.

That was one guy, not coordinating with anyone else but trying to affect point spreads on his own because of gambling debts. And the story came out and we know his name. You get how that supports my point that big conspiracies don't hold, right? Instructions to officiating crews, many people involved, etc.

One guy, on his own, and the story came out. Headscratcher that you cited that, I should have.

edit: @letekro beat me to it.

 

[Kontradiction]

Why fix this game on the field and not the two prime time games the Pats were in? Let's see what you guys can come up with...

 

[Kontradiction]

Also, I need an explanation of how a league can fix games from the top down, a scandal that would rival the Black Sox scandal, in 2016 without it being reported.

 

[Sfpat]

Yes the refs were bad, but the Pats mailed this game in. BB's attitude - Win, so be it. Lose, who cares. BB just didn't want Edelman to have to play QB

 

[TomPatriot]

Yesterday, the Patriots needed a fix.

 

[DaBruinz]

when you're a rookie you don't get the benefit of calls.
when you're playing crappy football you don't get the benefit of the calls.
when you're the Patriots you don't get the benefit of the calls.

today was 3 for 3.

You forget something.
Patriots were the home team.

I think on nearly every drive where the Patriots offense accomplished something, the Refs threw a flag to negate it.

- 3rd Patriots Drive. The False Start on Thuney. Especially where there were two other plays during the game where it was clear the Bills entire O-line moved without the ball being snapped.

- 4th Drive . Refs clearly spot the ball incorrectly on Blount's 2nd run. Pats try to hurry to the line. Refs blow the play dead because they "weren't in position". Then, they call a phantom holding call on Andrews changing it from 3rd and 1 to 3rd and 11.

- 7th Drive. The Call on Solder for a "Chop Block". Solder had been knocked to the ground. The Bills player, who was being blocked by Gronkowski, ran into Solder. That is NOT a chop block since Solder wasn't the one who initiated the contact.

- The penalty on Long for Roughing the passer. Total BS.
- The False start Penalty on Edelman followed by the "Illegal Shift". Neither happened. They were phantom calls.

By comparison, there were at least two hits to Brissett's helmet that went uncalled. Rookie or not. They're supposed to protect the QB.

Brissett being thrown down by Zach Brown while CLEARLY OOBs should have been called.

Sorry, but only people with their head in the sand thing that the league didn't tell Morelli's group to screw the Patriots today..