NFL Week 9 Predictions

Penalties drive N.F.L. coaches and fans crazy.

Some infractions, like offside and the false start, are fairly clear-cut to spot and have some correlation to a team’s skill and ability. They are generally the mark of a young roster — or one with inexperienced starters being asked to replace injured starters. The Broncos, Saints, Seahawks and Dolphins are the league’s most penalized teams, while Seattle and Miami join the Jets, Commanders and Ravens as teams at deficits when it comes to net penalty yards against opponents, according to nflpenalties.com.

The more subjective flags — where referees are asked to exercise independent judgment in deciding penalties like pass interference, roughing the passer, and unsportsmanlike conduct — are the ones that send fan bases and bettors into chaos.

Take Atlanta’s win over Carolina last week for example. P.J. Walker’s 62-yard touchdown pass to D.J. Moore with 12 seconds left in the fourth quarter tied the game, 34-34. The Panthers needed only to convert the extra-point attempt. But game officials decided that Moore’s removal of his helmet after the play amounted to unsportsmanlike conduct and tacked 15 yards onto the kick, which Eddy Piñeiro missed. The Falcons won, 37-34, on an overtime field goal.

All to say that, like Piñeiro, we had a down Week 8, and we’re looking to exercise our right as American football fans to blame the refs. It’s the halfway point, and our record sits at exactly .500.

Article source: https://www.nytimes.com/2022/11/03/sports/football/nfl-week-9-picks.html