It has not been a great week for NFL official Brad Allen and his crew. In what was a highly anticipated and pivotal NFC matchup between the Dallas Cowboys and the Detroit Lions loaded with playoff implications, it turned into what the NFL despises most — a conversation about the referees.
The belief is that whether the Lions’ attempt at being deceptive was Allen’s mistake or simply their own, either way, it hasn’t been a good week for the part of the NFL operation they like talked about the least.
Despite that, the show goes on, and as the NFL world turns their attention to the final week of the season, it looks as if Allen and his crew will be back in the spotlight with another prime-time matchup. The NFL world has a lot to say about the decision.
NFL World Reacts to Brad Allen Getting Prime-Time Game
According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, despite the nightmare of publicity that ensued following the conclusion of the Lions and Cowboys game in Week 17, Allen and his team will once again be called upon to run another important matchup in a spotlight moment.
Schefter reports that “Referee Brad Allen and his crew — who last worked Saturday night’s Lions-Cowboys game — have been assigned to Saturday’s Steelers-Ravens game on ESPN. So back on national television.”
There are only two NFL games set to be played on Saturday this week with the Steelers-Ravens matchup being one of them — putting Allen and his crew back in front of the world.
Many were unafraid to share their thoughts on the decision by the league.
honestly in awe of the league's dgaf levels https://t.co/kfeglatbFC
— David Helman (@davidhelman_) January 2, 2024
“Honestly in awe of the league’s dgaf levels,” was the message from FOX Sports’ David Helman, who seems to acknowledge just how bizarre of a decision this truly is by the league.
This comes after the non-DPI call in Chiefs/Packers
After not calling roughing the passer (which Za'Darius Smith was later fined for) in Bears/Browns which cost Chicago a field goal opportunity
After the 'who's eligible anyways' blunder in Lions/Cowboys
But sure, let's reward… https://t.co/G60la92sqw
— Courtney Cronin (@CourtneyRCronin) January 2, 2024
ESPN’s Chicago Bears reporter Courtney Cronin chooses to lay out just how many mistakes Allen and his crew have made this year and questions why this is even happening in the first place.
MORE: Did Penalties Truly Alter the Outcome of the Dallas Cowboys vs. Detroit Lions Game?
“This comes after the non-DPI call in Chiefs/Packers. After not calling roughing the passer (which Za’Darius Smith was later fined for) in Bears/Browns which cost Chicago a field goal opportunity. After the ‘who’s eligible anyways’ blunder in Lions/Cowboys, But sure, let’s reward this officiating crew with another nationally televised, important game! What’s culpability anyways?!”
The NFL could have hidden Brad Allen's crew in a Sunday 1 p.m. ET game.
Best way to interpret this assignment is a show of support. https://t.co/u6iHPDesHR
— Kevin Seifert (@SeifertESPN) January 2, 2024
ESPN’s Kevin Seifert comes in with a good point and unique perspective stating that maybe this move was with the direct intention of supporting Allen instead of piling on like the rest of the sports world seems to be doing right now.
“The NFL could have hidden Brad Allen’s crew in a Sunday 1 p.m. ET game. Best way to interpret this assignment is a show of support.”
Any way you choose to look at it, one thing can be known for sure — people are going to be watching. Additionally, the margin for error for Allen and his team seems to be razor-thin.
Even if the NFL is trying to show support for their guy, this doesn’t seem like the best situation to put an official who is on the tip of everybody’s tongue for all the wrong reasons.
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