NFL Considering Rules Change After Cowboys vs. Bengals Controversy
The Cincinnati Bengals defeated the Dallas Cowboys in a hard-fought game on Monday night, but the win did not come without controversy.
The Cowboys blocked a Bengals punt late in the fourth quarter, but were unable to recover the ball after one of their players made contact with it. The Bengals picked up the ball and proceeded to score a game-winning touchdown after continuing their drive.
Cowboys fans were upset about how the game ended, but Bengals fans voiced their opinion about another play in the game, despite their team coming away with the win.
Quarterback Joe Burrow's facemask was grabbed on a sack in the fourth quarter, and it appeared that everyone in the stadium aside from the officials noticed.
Fans on social media called for a review of the play, but current NFL rules don't allow for facemask calls to be assessed through replay review.
On Wednesday, one NFL executive said that could change in the future.
According to Troy Vincent, the league's EVP of football operations, facemask penalties are "among plays that could be under consideration for replay assist in the future."
Missed facemask penalties have been exceedingly common in the NFL this season, with officials ignoring calls on what feels like a weekly basis.
As some fans have said, it appears to be only a matter of time before a game is decided on one of these plays. If facemask calls are able to be reviewed with the same angles that television broadcasts have access to, it could significantly reduce the number of missed calls each week.
CINCINNATI, OHIO - NOVEMBER 05: Joe Burrow #9 of the Cincinnati Bengals reacts during the second quarter against the Buffalo Bills at Paycor Stadium on November 05, 2023 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Jeff Dean/Getty Images)
As the NFL gets into the most important part of its season and the postseason, scrutiny for officials and they calls they make will be at an all-time high. Playoff positioning and potentially championships are on the line over the next few weeks, and fans will watch closely to make sure that games are fairly and accurately officiated.
We'll see what happens in the offseason when it comes to have facemask calls altered for replay review, but it won't change the fact that several of them have been missed throughout the 2024 NFL season.
