Packer Fans Unfamiliar with Disadvantageous Officiating

Packer Fans Unfamiliar with Disadvantageous Officiating

Dark-green Bay Packer Fans

In 2012, the Dark-green Bay Packers were infamously robbed against the Seattle Seahawks on a Mon nighttime, leading folks to believe the Packers were frequent recipients of bad officiating luck.

From 2013 onward, Green Bay is the fourth-to the lowest degree penalized franchise in the NFL, tallying 50.4 punishment yards per game amidst the final 9 seasons. While the screwjob was palpable on that Mon night versus the Seahawks in 2012, the Packers officiating woes are effectively nonexistent since compared to the residue of the league.

So when the Minnesota Vikings toppled the Packers on Sunday, the bemoaning of officiating was quite strange. The Packers don't typically have "issues" with bad referees. In fact, the stereotype is the opposite. Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers is usually the thespian that fans believe receives most of the favorable calls, non vice versa.

This gentleman, from CheeseHeadTV, is convinced the referees were responsible for the Packers loss:

Kirk Cousins tossed an interception in Sun'southward game that was negated past a helmet-to-helmet roughing the passer flag – an infraction largely popularized by defenders hitting Aaron Rodgers too late. So, Cousins threw some other pick with the game on the line to Darnell Savage – merely Fell dropped the ball on the ground.

Regardless, tweets like this from fans striking the digital stratosphere.

The Vikings likewise converted many first downs in threerd Downwards situations by a whisker, peculiarly late in the game. However, the Packers coaching staff did not claiming, nor did the booth review.

Bated from the overturned interceptions and commencement downs, information technology is unclear how the referees were out to "spiral the Packers."


Alternatively, the Packers have experienced a very favorable 2021 season from an officiating standpoint. Heading into Calendar week 11, when Rodgers targeted pass-catchers, the Packers' opponents were called for more defensive laissez passer interference infractions than anyone in the NFL. Meaning – the Packers have been the beneficiary of DPI more than any team in the business organization.

For a team that allegedly gets jobbed by officials based on the postgame musings later on the Vikings matchup, this must be an outlier?


There'south too the matter of the Packers as the least penalized team in the NFL before the Vikings showdown. No team has received fewer penalty flags against them than Green Bay:

Oddly, it's the Vikings who are penalized more than than 31 other teams. And then, that's either poor coaching with too many flags – or the referees have an agenda against Minnesota. Information technology'due south probably simply the lack of discipline instead of rampant conspiracy theory. Why? Because rampant conspiracy theories are generally bogus.

Ergo, if one ignores these items:

  • Green Bay has been penalized the fourth-least since the raw deal in 2012 vs. Seattle
  • Helmet-to-helmet against Cousins didn't matter
  • Fell's interception vividly hit the basis
  • The Packers are the beneficiary of DPI more than other squad
  • Greenish Bay has the fewest penalty flags and so far in 2021

..then perhaps the CheeseHeadTV and Packer fans are on to something well-nigh NFL officiating conspiring against Green Bay.

Otherwise, information technology'south immature bellyaching.

Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. He hosts a podcast with Bryant McKinnie, which airs every Midweek with Raun Sawh and Sally from Minneapolis . His Viking fandom dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, 'The Sopranos,' and The Doors (the band).

Mike Zimmer and Kyle Shanahan