Minnesota Vikings came out on the wrong side of 2 reviews Sunday afternoon, and the outcomes contradict themselves

The referees didn’t cost the Vikings the game, but they certainly didn’t help any.

Tyler Forness — NFL & College Football News Writer
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Minnesota Vikings tight end T.J. Hockenson (87) makes a diving attempt in the end zone that was ruled a touchdown, but overturned in the fourth quarter.
NFL/Fox Sports

The referees weren’t the reason the Minnesota Vikings lost 28-22 to the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday, but they certainly didn’t help.

When you look at the different elements of the game, there were some rough misses that didn’t go in favor of the Vikings, including a missed hold on Lane Johnson on the pivotal third and 13 that started the game-winning touchdown drive, and this snatch trap on Blake Brandel that took a touchdown off the board.

Even with these penalties, the Vikings could have easily won this game if they had put things together. That’s where things keep getting more frustrating.

2 booth reviews that go against the Vikings contradict themselves

Sunday’s game also brought two reviews that went against the Vikings, and it was tough on both.

The first was a challenge by head coach Kevin O’Connell, when Eagles wide receiver DeVonta Smith caught a pass over the middle, and the ball hit the ground. It should have been overturned due to Smith not surviving the ground.

Late in the fourth quarter, T.J. Hockenson had a diving attempt in the end zone for a touchdown that would have gotten them within two points. It was also overturned from a touchdown, forcing the Vikings to convert a fourth down.

O’Connell came away frustrated about the calls, especially that the premise was similar in both.

“Really, my question was kind of connected to T.J.’s play, to the (DeVonta Smith) challenge that I had earlier on in the game, because it seemed like a very similar premise of why they should maybe be similar,” said O’Connell.

“I did not get any [clarity]. I’m not a part of the conversations with Bill (Vinovich) or New York (NFL office), but the side judge that I was standing with tried to update me as much as possible. But the main update that I got was incomplete pass.”

It didn’t just leave the O’Connell and the fans frustrated, but also the players.

“There was nothing to overturn it,” T.J. Hockenson said after the game. “I mean, I was out there. I felt it, hands under the ball, snag it, and I don’t understand. I don’t basically understand the catch rule at this point. … I don’t understand how New York can call in and just be like, ‘Yeah, that’s not a catch,’ when there was no evidence that it wasn’t. I mean, I had it. I think it’s ridiculous.”

The really frustrating thing is the inconsistency across the board between the two plays. Why did they contradict each other so much? The other oddity was that the FOX broadcast didn’t show a replay of the Smith catch and barely mentioned that it was being challenged.

It was an odd situation, and understanding NFL referees remains a mystery.

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