In a close game, there's never a reason for the team in stripes to have a major impact due to an awful decision. Unfortunately for the NY Giants, this was the case for them in the Sunday Night Football loss to the Cincinnati Bengals, as a terrible missed call late in the action hurt the home side.
With a little over two minutes to go in the action, Joe Burrow was facing 3rd-and-12, with Cincinnati clinging to a 10-7 lead. The G-Men were in a great spot to get the ball back and attempt to force overtime or win it late in regulation.
However, Burrow made a tremendous play for a first down, which continued the drive - one that ended with a Chase Brown touchdown run. Ball game. However, looking closely at things, you can see that stud pass-rusher Brian Burns was clearly held by a Cincy lineman. No call? Yup, nothing to see there. Absolutely maddening:
The refs screwed the NY Giants late in the loss to the Cincinnati Bengals
The more times you watch that clip, the more furious you'll probably get. After the game, Burns was visibly upset after the non-call. It kind of looks like the ref watching closely was about to reach for a flag, but then he changed his mind at the last second.
"That last play on third down when he threw the ball down the sideline, I feel like that was questionable. Just feel like it was a hold. That's a game-changing play. "
- Brian Burns
Burns would go on to say it was questionable multiple times, but let us say it for him: It was a bogus, awful missed call. Without the hold, Burns would have been able to apply pressure on Burrow and either force him to throw the ball earlier or maybe even record a sack.
However, since no laundry hit the turf, Burrow was given more time and put the ball on the money for his wideout to come down with it. It's not the only reason the Giants are now 2-4 on the year, but who knows what would have happened had the Giants and Burns forced a stop there.
