The Chicago Bears came so close to pulling off an impressive comeback on Sunday against the Minnesota Vikings. They had the lead late 22-21. Sadly a defensive breakdown allowed their rivals to escape in the final minutes with a late touchdown. There were several missed opportunities for the Bears. Few felt bigger than early in the 4th quarter. On 2nd and 11 from the 48-yard line, Justin Fields took off on an incredible scramble that ended in a 52-yard touchdown. It should’ve been a signature moment for the young quarterback.
Instead, the refs called it back due to an illegal block in the back penalty called on wide receiver Ihmir Smith-Marsette.
Reviews of the play quickly revealed that the call was wrong. Not only did Smith-Marsette hit cornerback Cameron Dantzler from the side, but it’s obvious the cornerback threw himself to the ground to make it look like a far worse play than it was. Even the announcers on the broadcast said as much.
What an absolutely horrendous call.
Ihmir Smith-Marsette clearly has one hand in front of Cameron Dantzler who gives a flop Lebron would be proud of. #DaBears #Bears #ChicagoBears pic.twitter.com/eruIZJz2A6
— Clay Harbor (@clayharbs82) October 10, 2022
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The kicker came after the game ended. Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune spoke to Smith-Marsette and Dantzler about the play. Their answers pretty much said it all.
“He flopped,” Smith-Marsette said.
I asked Dantzler if that was a fair evaluation of the play.
“He was blocking me,” Dantzler said. “And I sold it pretty good. I was in a tough spot.”
Justin Fields can’t seem to catch a break.
Every time he delivers a huge play, something happens to minimize its impact on the national consciousness. Few remember his incredible run against the 49ers last year because the Bears lost thanks to a late defensive collapse. This time it’s a terrible call by the refs brought on by a blatant flop from the defender. There is every reason to think that call cost the Bears the game. It allowed Minnesota to regroup and settle themselves rather than getting the gut punch it should’ve been.
It’s been a recurring theme for the Bears this season. Questionable penalty calls wiped out several of their biggest momentum-swinging plays. Justin Fields no doubt feels the frustration. Most of those calls come when it’s him making the play. It’s hard enough to win in this league fighting the opposing team. Fighting the refs at the same time makes it impossible. One only hopes this trend doesn’t continue.
Questionable calls are costing teams games and bringing the integrity of the sport into question. Nobody wants to have a good, hard fought game decided by an idiot refs bad call. Let teams challenge phantom penalties!
Unfortunately plays like this cost the game.
@34sweetness.. I couldn’t agree more. Bad call no matter what, but throwing your arms up like that makes you look like you did some sh!t. I don’t know if i’ve ever seen the arms go up, and there not be a call. And many calls are correct either way, but that really makes you look guilty AF. It just immediately sticks out, even to fans. Even as a fan I immediately assume he did something, until I see the replay.
This is not something that just Fields deals with. Let me point you to the 2009 NFC championship game, or the “roughing” the passer call against Grady Jackson for Atlanta in last week’s game against TB. Also, food for thought, but Smith-Marsette’s arms were out in front preventing Dantzler from moving laterally to try to tackle Fields. So, maybe it wasn’t block in the back, but there’s an argument for it being holding instead – same result. It was a bad block by Smith-Marsette. He was behind Dantzler. What he needed to do was wait to make contact until Fields… Read more »
Some of these are so blatant that they cant be judgement errors. They are the result of incompetentcy or dishionesty. In either case, these officials should never be allowed on a field again. Remember Pittsburgh!!!