Jets Left Fuming After Controversial Calls Doom Seahawks Showdown
EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ – A wave of frustration washed over the New York Jets’ locker room following their 26-21 defeat to the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday. A penalty plague, particularly pressing in the pivotal final quarter, left the Jets reeling and their cornerback D.J. Reed publicly expressing his ire online.
The frustration was palpable, with the Jets succumbing to a staggering 12 penalties totaling 83 yards. The final blow came as Seattle mounted their game-winning drive, culminating in Zach Charbonnet’s 8-yard touchdown run. During that crucial stretch, the Jets were penalized five times, effectively handing the Seahawks precious momentum.
One call, in particular, raised eyebrows. A questionable “too many men on the field” call against the Jets on a fourth-and-6 play threw fuel on the fire. Confused thinking the Seahawks were punting, returner Xavier Gipson mistakenly took his position, resulting in the momentum-shifting penalty.
The fallout was immediate and potent. Reed, visibly incensed, took to social media to express his discontent. “@NFLOfficiating you f—— suck, yall should be ashamed of yall selves.!” he wrote in a since-deleted post on X.
Interim coach Jeff Ulbrich, tasked with navigating this tumultuous landscape, sought to maintain composure while acknowledging the severity of the situation. "I have to look at every single one of those penalties and see exactly if they’re real, if they’re not real, what caused them, and get to the bottom of it,” Ulbrich stated after the game. “It’s not OK. It’s not acceptable. It’s not our standard. Penalties ultimately extend drives. We can’t let that happen."
Echoing Ulbrich’s sentiments while acknowledging the inherent challenges, cornerback Sauce Gardner offered a measured perspective. “I always say this: The refs, they’re not perfect," Gardner remarked. "We’re perfect. If they think they see something, they’re going to throw the flag. So I’m not going to sit up here and just talk bad about the refs. Nobody’s perfect. They were doing their job how they felt. It’s the highest level, and that’s just what it is. And we got to live with those results."
This season’s penalty plague has been a recurring theme for the Jets. They now lead the NFL with five first downs surrendered via penalty on fourth down, a dubious distinction that ties them for the most by any team this century. The Seahawks contest serves as a stark reminder of the often fine margins in the NFL, where officiating controversies can have game-altering consequences.
[Embedded image: Rich Cimini headshot from ESPN]
