NFL World Rips Jets-Vikings Referees Over Numerous Controversial Penalties

The officiating crew across the pond didn't have the best day.

Justin Jefferson was on the receiving end of some generous calls in London / Bob Kupbens/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

The New York Jets took on the Minnesota Vikings in London on Sunday morning and it was a rather ugly international affair. Both teams started slow and the opposing quarterbacks didn't put on much of a show. Aaron Rodgers was tortured by Brian Flores's defense throughout the day and Sam Darnold looked more like the guy who used to play for the Jets than the MVP candidate who led the Vikings to four straight wins in the opening four weeks of the year.

Many in the NFL world would contend the worst performance of the day came from the officiating crew. The refs were absolutely hammered throughout the contest by fans and pundits alike for numerous questionable pass interference calls and one pretty awful roughing the punter penalty.

An example of one such PI call that got the people worked up:

Refs call another pass interference on the Jets.... #NYJvsMIN pic.twitter.com/ISzkwO0aO7

— Rate the Refs App (@Rate_the_Refs) October 6, 2024

And the reaction:

Jets defense by my count in defending Justin Jefferson:

Pass interference: 3
Defensive holding: 1
Illegal contact: 1

Vikings 17, Jets 10. END Q3

— Kevin Seifert (@SeifertESPN) October 6, 2024

These are some BADDDDD Pass Interference calls. I mean what are we doin!?

— Darius Butler (@DariusJButler) October 6, 2024

Bro every incompletion by the Vikings is called Pass Interference

— Sam Dekker (@dekker) October 6, 2024

Really wish the NFL competition committee would reconsider how pass interference is being officiated. Being an NFL cornerback is getting more impossible by the day.

— Jeremy Reisman (@DetroitOnLion) October 6, 2024

Some of these DPIs are not DPIs.

— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) October 6, 2024

In no world is this DPI pic.twitter.com/amLW45iNSV

— Will Parkinson (@Willpa11) October 6, 2024

Some ticky tack DPI calls.

— Zack Rosenblatt (@ZackBlatt) October 6, 2024

The roughing the punter call was particularly egregious.

Here’s the roughing the punter call on the Vikings from earlier pic.twitter.com/L9MFkNGVYL

— Mr Matthew CFB (@MrMatthew_CFB) October 6, 2024

General frustration was evident among those watching.

There’s a reason why they didn’t show the replay of the “Roughing the Kicker” call. Because it was soft. Pace was pushed into the punter. 5-yard variety at WORST. pic.twitter.com/qi3eY3UOMV

— Purple FTW! Podcast (@PurpleForTheWin) October 6, 2024

Down 17-7, Aaron Rodgers got sandwiched in the pocket, grabbed his knee, limped off as Jets punted from their goal line. Terrible roughing punter call ... and ARodg turned and trotted back out to conduct a field goal drive. Miraculous melodrama from the biggest diva ever.

— Skip Bayless (@RealSkipBayless) October 6, 2024

THAT was the roughing the punter penalty?

— Matthew Coller (@MatthewColler) October 6, 2024

Is the NFL Network not gonna show that roughing the punter personal foul on the Vikings? What we did see looked weak. Game-changing call.

— Andrew Perloff (@andrewperloff) October 6, 2024

Not the best day for anyone across the pond, it seems.

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