Multiple Titans disagree with officiating in loss to Colts
NASHVILLE — The Tennessee Titans did plenty to shoot themselves in the foot during Sunday's overtime loss to the Indianapolis Colts. But that doesn't mean they weren't hindered by a couple bad calls. Anytime a game goes to overtime, one or two plays are likely to swing the outcome. That includes penalties being called when […]
NASHVILLE — The Tennessee Titans did plenty to shoot themselves in the foot during Sunday's overtime loss to the Indianapolis Colts. But that doesn't mean they weren't hindered by a couple bad calls.
Anytime a game goes to overtime, one or two plays are likely to swing the outcome. That includes penalties being called when they are not warranted.
After a gutting loss on Sunday, multiple Titans players seemed to disagree with critical decisions made by officials that changed the game.
CB Sean Murphy-Bunting and WR DeAndre Hopkins were both unafraid to speak their mind about the officiating in postgame interviews on Sunday.
For SMB, his gripe was with an illegal contact penalty that was called in overtime after a huge sack from Kyle Peko. Instead of Indianapolis being in 2nd-and-18 with a running clock from their own 28, they were given a fresh set of downs closer to midfield.
"I think personally, it wasn't a good call," said Murphy-Bunting after the loss. "I think if you're a corner in this league and you play a physical style of play, which I do, and you are going against a receiver who is physical, which [Michael Pittman Jr.] is – he is a 6'4", 220 pound guy – you expect to be able to out your hands on guys and be able to play through things."
"He had his hands on me. I had my hands on him. I thought it was a perfect technique rep and they thought otherwise,. I said earlier that it was a bad call and I still stand on that," said SMB.
Titans head coach Mike Vrabel did not look pleased with the call on the sideline when it happened. He then expressed some of the same frustrations Murphy-Bunting did in his postgame press conference.
"I thought that was a little quick, you know what I mean? It's two guys released on the sidelines. Obviously, who would be enthusiastic about that? I asked if it was a two-step process, if he saw the illegal contact. 90 minutes into the game or 80 minutes into the game, good time to call the first illegal contact of the day," said Vrabel sarcastically.
As for Hopkins, he had an issue with a missed call on defensive pass interference in the end zone. Or a "no call," I should say.
Tennessee's offense was in 3rd-and-Goal from the 6-yard line late in the first quarter when Will Levis threw an incomplete pass to Hopkins in the back of the end zone. Hopkins was being tightly covered and held by Colts safety Nick Cross on the play. No flag was thrown and the Titans had to settle for a field goal.
Hopkins was asked after the game if he felt like there should have been PI called on that play. "Oh absolutely. He wasn’t playing the football. He was restricting me from running, so I don’t know what a penalty is if that’s not one," said the future Hall of Fame wide receiver.
"You guys can rewind it and look for yourself and see he had two hands on me," Hopkins continued. "I was trying to run the route and guy’s just playing me and not the football. But I would probably do the same in the end zone if I was guarding myself."
Over the course of every football game, there are going to be missed calls. That's just part of football. But these two plays are sure to be leaving a bitter taste in the mouth of Titans fans.
Should Tennessee have played better and not self-destructed on special teams? Yes. Did these two missed calls significantly impact the outcome of the game? Also yes.
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