NFL officiating for Eagles-Bills gets blasted: ‘ Total buffoonery’

Bills head coach Sean McDermott issued a brief non-answer when asked about the officiating in the team’s 37-34 loss to the Eagles on Sunday: “Nah, I’m not going there,” he said, via Dan Fetes of 13WHAM.

The truth is that with 1:25 left in the first half, a blatant horse-collar penalty that left Bills quarterback Josh Allen’s shirt ripped was the final straw for NFL fans, who took to X (formerly Twitter) to complain. Instead of penalizing the Eagles, Buffalo was called for intentional grounding and then missed a field goal to tie the game at 10-10.

Fox Sports’ Jason McIntyre could speak for everyone – but Eagles fans – watching when he posted on X: “Bills really got effed there with no horse collar and then pushed back 15 yards. Total buffoonery from the refs.”

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CBS Sports’ rules analyst (and former NFL referee) Gene Steratore broke down why this was a glaring missed call by officials on X.

“If the quarterback is in the pocket, there cannot be a penalty for a horse collar tackle. However, once he leaves the pocket, he is offered that protection,” Steratore wrote. “Josh Allen was out of the pocket, so there should have been a foul on this play in #BUFvsPHI for an illegal horse-collar tackle.”

NFL analyst Warren Sharp issued a more damning criticism of the referee crew on hand for this game. Sharp even insinuates betting could be playing a factor.

“Let’s talk about NFL refs, part 362,” Sharp wrote. “The Eagles are 4-0 with Shawn Hochuli as the ref since Nick Siranni was hired (4-0 [against the spread] as well).”

By the end of the half, Buffalo had been penalized 10 times for 75 yards to just one penalty for the Eagles for five yards.

After the game, Eagles linebacker Nicholas Morrow alleged that Allen was flopping. He used an overtime roughing the passer penalty as an example.

On second and 10 at the Eagles’ 45 and the game tied with 7:24 remaining in overtime, Allen completed a short pass to running back James Cook as Morrow blitzed. Allen had released the ball when Morrow arrived and shoved Allen, who flopped to the ground, drawing the penalty.

Instead of third-and-six at the Eagles’ 41, the Bills had a first down at the Eagles’ 26-yard line. A touchdown would end the game without the Eagles even possessing the ball in overtime.

“I didn’t feel like I was late,” Morrow told NJ Advance Media after the game. “I didn’t feel I was in his head and neck area. I felt like [Allen] flopped. He was crying the moment I touched him.”

Fortunately, the Eagles’ defense managed to hold the Bills to a field goal, which gave Buffalo a 34-31 lead in overtime. This allowed Philadelphia quarterback Jalen Hurts to complete a nine-play, 75-yard drive that was capped by a 12-yard touchdown run and the win.

By the end of the games, Buffalo had been penalized 11 times for 80 yards to just four penalties for the Eagles for 30 yards.

Eagles beat reporter for NJ Advance Media Andy Vasquez contributed to this report.

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Manuel Gomez may be reached at mgomez@njadvancemedia.com.