Refs make worst call ever to screw Patriots out of TD on Gunner Olszewski punt return

The Patriots were robbed of a touchdown on Gunner Olszewski’s punt return.

Special teams has set up two New England Patriots scoring drives. First it was a Donte Moncrief kick return into Arizona Cardinals territory to help get the first points on the board. Then, it was a Gunner Olszewski punt return that went all the way to the house …

… Until a late flag came in. Early in the third quarter, the Cards sent a punt into New England territory, with Olszewski coming in on the run to snag it at the 20-yard line. One Cardinals player completely whiffed on the initial tackle attempt, which left the Patriots return man with a full head of steam.

And there he went! He shredded the rest of Arizona’s special teams unit and before you knew it, he was in the end zone. But the celebrations were cut short when a late flag came in at the other 20-yard line. Rookie linebacker Anfernee Jennings was called for an illegal blindside block … and we’re SO very confused.

Jennings squared up his body and laid into the defender with his shoulder. It just so happened the Cardinals player got completely wrecked, which more than likely prompted the flag. Of course, the broadcast went to the “official rules expert” who tried to dive deeper into an explanation, but nobody really bought it. If that’s not a legal block, then this isn’t football.

How about a freeze frame to convince you?

How could it be a blindside block when the defender saw Jennings the entire way? Jennings was in front and in plain sight. You can’t be penalizing people for being absolute savages, can you?

Protecting players should continue to be of the utmost importance for the NFL, but this is a legal, squared up, pad-to-pad block that beautifully paved the way for a touchdown. Come on.

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