"To make things more egregious, the flag wasn't thrown until the Patriots were celebrating the touchdown in the end zone, leading many to believe it was going to be a taunting penalty. Instead, it was a flag for offensive pass interference, initially called on TE Austin Hooper, only to be later revised and claimed to be on Stefon Diggs. The problem, though, was that there was no pass interference, even when the commentary team tried to spin the play into looking like it fit the penalty."
"Although it's frustrating to hear about, and sometimes the complaints aren't exactly warranted, in a situation like this, it actually is. It was such a bad call that even Gene Steratore, the NFL official on call with the broadcast team, wasn't sure why it was a penalty. That's when you know it's bad because typically, they are not going to disagree with the call on the field."
The Patriots produced explosive plays early, including a 53-yard touchdown to DeMario Douglas and a 61-yard touchdown that was nullified by a late offensive pass interference flag. The flag was initially called on Austin Hooper, later attributed to Stefon Diggs, despite little evidence of contact or interference. The penalty was thrown after the Patriots were already celebrating in the end zone, creating confusion and anger among players, broadcasters, and fans. Even veteran official Gene Steratore expressed uncertainty about the call. The sequence and subsequent officiating on the drive prompted calls for improved consistency and accountability among NFL officials.
Read at Musket Fire
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