NFL refs called another awful game in Jaguars vs. Steelers matchup

If you’ve watched any Jacksonville Jaguars games this year, you’d know that sometimes they’re playing two teams — their opponents and the referees. And Sunday’s game against the Pittsburgh Steelers was no different.

I typically hate people who blame refs for bad calls being the difference in a game’s outcome, but win or lose yesterday the officiating was embarrassing. There were several blown calls and a couple of moments where I was dumbfounded at what the refs could possible be looking at.

Bad Call #1: Maurkice Pouncey throws a ref, isn’t ejected

In the first quarter, Steelers center Maurkice Pouncey shoved an official after the offense fell short on third down. He wasn’t ejected. He wasn’t even penalized.

Yannick Ngakoue, however, was fined $30,387 for “engaging in physical contact with a game official” during a Week 16 loss to the San Francisco 49ers.

Players are typically ejected when they so much as lay a hand on an official. Marshawn Lynch was ejected for the same thing earlier this season against Kansas City.

The right call was made with Lynch. The right call was made with Ngakoue. No call was made with Pouncey.

Cool.

Bad Call #2: Jalen Ramsey’s phantom penalty

Blocking Jalen Ramsey on a Le’Veon Bell touch shortly after halftime, Steelers wide receiver Juju Smith-Schuster pushed Ramsey into Bell when he was out of bounds, leading to an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty for Ramsey.

Wait, what?

Bad Call #3: Telvin Smith taunting

Nah, this was definitely taunting. I just wanted to include it because I love it so much.

Were there any calls I missed? Let me know in the comments below!