The questionable officiating was a hot topic of debate in Sunday’s rematch between the New England Patriots and Miami Dolphins.
Coach Bill Belichick noted one play in particular that wasn’t flagged as “dangerous”, when speaking with media members on Monday.
Patriots running back Ezekiel Elliott was tripped by a Dolphins defender when running out of the offensive backfield. It was one of many missed calls by the officiating crew in the game, but this one was particularly dangerous because it could have ended in Elliott being injured.
So it’s no surprise that Belichick was upset with the no-call.
“I like to feel like our players are getting protected like everybody elses. The tripping on Ezekiel Elliott, that’s another dangerous play. Stuff like that, there shouldn’t be any place for that in football,” Belichick said on “The Greg Hill Show”, via ESPN’s Mike Reiss.
Just starting review, but wondering if this is the play Bill Belichick is referencing on the tripping of Ezekiel Elliott (2Q/14:31). https://t.co/1Vg9j4eTX6 pic.twitter.com/A7Z11mRVOt
— Mike Reiss (@MikeReiss) October 30, 2023
Another play in the game that wasn’t flagged was the helmet-to-helmet hit on Patriots wide receiver DeVante Parker, who was knocked out of the game.
That hit by Dolphins safety DeShon Elliott will likely draw a fine later in the week, but it would also be good to see plays like that caught on the field in real time.
