After Further Review: Jets-Broncos

By popular demand, we're again going to have a post after each game that breaks down some of the controversial decisions from the officiating crew in the game.

Penalty Count

Broncos 6-37 (leading to zero Jets first downs)
Jets 2-15 (leading to zero Broncos first downs)

Note: This does not include penalties that are declined or off-set.

Plays where the call was obvious, uncontroversial or not visible on broadcast footage

Jets Penalties

  • Joe Tippmann false start. Dropped into his stance before the ball was even snapped.
  • Armand Membou holding penalty. Reached across the pass rusher's neck as he lost leverage on an outside rush.

Broncos Penalties

  • Matt Peart false start. Flinched early.
  • Holding on Peart. Kiko Mauigoa got past him on a blitz, so he wrapped an arm around his chest to pull him back.
  • Nik Bonitto offside. Went two steps too soon so the officials had to blow it dead rather than give New York a free play.
  • Pat Bryant false start. Tried not to moved but eventually toppled forwards.
  • Holding on Peart. A really effective stunt here saw Clemons knock Peart off a block on Quinnen Williams so he could loop outside for a quarterback hit. Peart then bearhugged Clemons and pulled him to the ground.

Penalties warranting further discussion or explanation

Jets Penalties

  • Jarvis Brownlee holding on a punt return. Difficult to see from the TV footage, but the gunner went down near midfield, nowhere near the ball which was caught at the 20. This was ultimately a 29-yard penalty that meant the Jets started at their 10 rather than the 40 on a fourth quarter drive which saw them gain 20 and then punt on 4th-and-1. Had they done that after starting at the 40, they could have gone for that or attempted a 58-yard field goal.
  • Illegal shift. This was because Arian Smith went in motion before Wilson was set, although it looked like Wilson was a little slow to get into position. Interestingly, Denver declined and took 3rd-and-6 rather than 2nd-and-11, perhaps showing their lack of respect for the Jets' third down chances.

Broncos Penalties

  • Offensive holding on Quinn Meinerz in the end zone and offensive pass interference on Troy Franklin. The latter was declined anyway, so a moot point, but saw him push off on Brandon Stephens at the catch-point. On this play, Clemons won with a big bull rush and was pulled down. Replays showed Meinerz with a handful of jersey so this was definitely a hold. However, Williams and Mykal Walker were also held, so maybe the Jets should have had three safeties and a 15-13 win. Luke Wattenberg had an arm around Williams' waist and Garret Bolles had a handful of Walker's jersey around his chest plate.

Notable no-calls etc

Here were some of the other notable missed calls, replay situations and controversial moments:

  • As a general point, it's worth considering if the officials were briefed to call this game loose. They may have witnessed some of the slopfests the Jets have had so far this season - and not always from their own indiscipline as the opposing team were out-penalized in three of the first five games. As an international showpiece, the NFL probably wanted to avoid this - not that it made for a more exciting game anyway. From the sideline there was at least a missed hold or two.
  • Justin Fields was hit in the head on at least three of the nine sacks, including one that dislodged his helmet. Presumably the officials felt none of this contact was forcible.
  • On a third down, the Jets hoped for a review on a Fields run where he dived and stretched the ball out short of the line-to-gain, but hadn't been touched so should have been marked where the ball was when he was first contacted. The officials may have decided that he gave himself up but it seemed like he just lost his balance.
  • Wilson had a fumble overturned, which was probably correct because he was still tucking it away as he took his first step. It could easily have been too close to call and stayed as the original decision of a fumble, though. If he caught the ball like that in the end zone and then had it knocked away and ruled incomplete, Jets fans would have been pissed.
  • Isaiah Williams' elbow was definitely down when he lost the ball on a return.
  • Breece Hall advancing a fumble for positive yardage was an interesting one. This was okay because it wasn't fourth down and wasn't inside the two minute warning (by 23 seconds). So Hall advancing it is okay. Had it been either of those things, he couldn't advance a Fields fumble, but this was scored as an aborted snap (ie a Josh Myers fumble), so advancing it would be supposedly okay.

Let us know what we missed - or misinterpreted - in the comments...

NOTE: There will be no special teams review this week because we're going to do a 3-on-S instead of a 3-on-O, for obvious reasons, so everything will be covered there.