Eagles fail to fly high, so they target easy prey: But are the accusations of referee tampering right?
It seems like the referees can’t have peaceful days without fans breathing down their necks, accusing them of not doing their jobs properly.
The latest to do so are the Philadelphia Eagles fans after their crushing defeat at the hands of the San Francisco 49ers.
The December 4, 2023, game between the San Francisco 49ers and Philadelphia Eagles made the Eagles fans feel that the referee was biased towards the 49ers. Josh Sweat was penalized on two occasions for encroachment in the neutral zone, and both times, these infractions led to touchdowns being scored. Along with these, Eagles fans allege that other calls and no calls led to the 49ers victory.
What Is the Latest Beef Between Philadelphia Eagles and Referees?
Sports fans will always be biased towards their teams. If they feel the referee of a game gave their team a short stick, well, that official better stay off the internet for a while.
During the November 27, 2023, game between the Buffalo Bills and the Philadelphia Eagles, the Bills lost 37-34. The Bills fans felt that the referee, Shawn Hochuli, was biased toward their team. So they changed Hochuli’s Wikipedia page to include that he is an Eagles fan.
That has now been removed. Now, it’s the turn of the Eagles’ fans to complain about refs. In the recent December 4, 2023, NFL match between the San Francisco 49ers and the Philadelphia Eagles, the latter team’s fans felt that the game’s referee was biased towards them.
But what happened?
The Philadelphia Eagles suffered a decisive defeat of 42-19 at the hands of the visiting San Francisco 49ers in week 13. But Philadelphia still maintains its position atop the NFC with a 10-2 record.
Loyal Eagles team supporters are convinced that the outcome could have been different if not for what they perceive as biased officiating.
One pivotal moment unfolded when the 49ers were making progress downfield, and the Eagles’ defense appeared to have thwarted their advance at the 4-yard line.
However, the turning point came when a penalty flag was thrown after the play, penalizing Eagles’ defensive lineman Josh Sweat for lining up in the neutral zone.
This unexpected penalty granted the 49ers a second opportunity, which they capitalized on when Brock Purdy connected with Brandon Aiyuk for a 2-yard touchdown.
In another crucial play, Eagles’ quarterback Jalen Hurts attempted a deep pass to Quez Watkins, who was positioned near the 25-yard line.
This play raised eyebrows among Eagles fans as 49ers’ defensive back Ambry Thomas made contact with Watkins, yet the officials did not make a penalty call. FOX analyst Greg Olson supported the no-call, further intensifying the debate.
The controversy surrounding this incident spilled over onto social media platforms, particularly on X/ Twitter, where Eagles fans expressed their frustration and disagreement.
Adding fuel to the fire, Eagles supporters argued that there were additional instances of missed holding and pass interference calls, further exacerbating their belief in officiating bias.
They also contended that the 49ers were credited with catches that they believe should not have been counted.
However, most people online are simply calling out the leaky defense of the Eagles that led to the loss.
The fury is also because the game was crucial. After all:
The once sizable gap between them and other contenders is narrowing. San Francisco’s victory now places them at 9-3, sharing this record with the Detroit Lions and the Dallas Cowboys.
The Eagles are set to face the Cowboys in a crucial divisional matchup next week. Should Philadelphia falter in this game, Dallas would also reach a 10-3 record.
In the event that both Detroit and San Francisco secure victories, it could potentially lead to a four-way tie for the top spot in the NFC. It will be interesting to see what happens next.
What’s your take on the Eagles’ fans being harsh towards the referee? Were the calls correct? Do you think that some were biased?
Let us know what you think in the comments below.
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