When nobody mentioned an officiating crew, you can assume that the crew did a pretty decent job. When every fan of one team is upset at an officiating crew, you can assume that things were a bit one-sided.
And when everybody watching the NFL on a Sunday is apoplectic over the performance of an officiating crew regardless of partisan status, you can assume that the crew really beefed it all day long.
That was the case for referee John Hussey and his crew in Sunday’s game between the San Francisco 49ers and the Cleveland Browns. Hussey made calls ranging from comical to outright inexplicable, and here’s the full rundown:
The Browns won the game 19-17 to drop the 49ers from the realm of the undefeated, but that was NOT the story here. Needless to say, everybody on social media was quite perturbed at Hussey, and nobody was holding back.
Referee John Hussey's correction announcement on a penalty got a good laugh out of Kevin Burkhardt and Greg Olsen pic.twitter.com/e5HxCmOsUo
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) October 15, 2023
Referee John Hussey was calling upstairs after the teams were separated. No announcements and now warmups have proceeded as usual. https://t.co/ql6iwU1ulQ
— Zac Jackson (@AkronJackson) October 15, 2023
John Hussey is an AWFUL official. Literally changing the game with this BS call @NFL @NFLOfficiating please explain 🤬#NFL #FTTB
— Tige (@Ryan_Theige) October 15, 2023
This is an indictment on John Hussey's officiating crew. Been really poor today, on top of the mistakes on both sides. https://t.co/QBXbjVVd1s
— Rohan Chakravarthi (@RohanChakrav) October 15, 2023
John Hussey is one of the most experienced officials in the NFL.
I say that to say this:
There are no good officials.
— Andrew Spayde (@AndrewSpayde) October 15, 2023
Live look at the #referees in the Browns/Niners game! pic.twitter.com/FPT2WEbLCx
— If you follow Matty…. (@IfYouFollowMatt) October 15, 2023
The referees initially called this a face mask on the #Browns and it took them 3 minutes to talk this over and change the call. How do you get this wrong on the field, seriously? pic.twitter.com/044oy6XRv3
— Roberto Shenanigans (@Rob_Shenanigans) October 15, 2023
There was no face mask penalty called on this play.
And then on the very next snap the referees flagged Cleveland for lining up in the neutral zone.
The #Browns are getting absolutely jobbed by the officials today. This is ridiculous. https://t.co/v1UycfiV82 pic.twitter.com/PDAgeezsvM
— Roberto Shenanigans (@Rob_Shenanigans) October 15, 2023
Maybe one day the @NFL will stop having 50 and 60 year-old referees chasing around and EXPECTING to keep up with 25 year-old players. You'd think those billionaires would want a good product. Aren't you @49ers tired of getting cheated? Our owner doesn't habe a voice? Smh…
— 89P13 (@WhuHAAPEN) October 15, 2023
The #49ers–#Browns game is the perfect example for referees taking over a game. Over twenty penalties called???
Inexcusable
— Andrew Buchek (@abuchek74) October 15, 2023
John Hussey’s crew should be suspended for the atrocious effort today. Complete garbage both ways. Just clueless.
— goclones2019 (@goclones2019) October 15, 2023