Controversial ref from Titans-Chiefs game is reportedly done
The MVP of the Tennessee Titans’ improbable comeback win to beat the Kansas City Chiefs 22-21 at Arrowhead Stadium Saturday may have been quarterback Marcus Mariota, but someone else on the field may have had just as big of an impact on the outcome of the game.
Referee Jeff Triplette and his crew oversaw some controversial calls in the game. And whether it was from the anticipated scrutiny those calls were likely to receive in the wake of the close game or just because he believed the time was right, Triplette announced shortly after the game that he was retiring from officiating.
Aditi Kinkhabwala of NFL Network broke the news early Sunday morning Saturday’s game would be Triplette’s last.
Referee Jeff Triplette, who worked yesterday's #Titans–#Chiefs Wild Card game, has told folks around him he's retiring from @NFL officiating. And the heartfelt hugs he exchanged w/ his crew after dinner last night? Def looked like good-byes.
— Aditi Kinkhabwala (@AKinkhabwala) January 7, 2018
Of course, if the Chiefs had played better football, there likely wouldn’t have been any complaints about the officiating.
But there’s no question Triplette’s calls had an impact on the outcome of the game, most notably a call in the second quarter where Mariota appeared to fumble the football after being sacked.
Wow. @SuperDJ56 #ChiefsKingdom #NFLPlayoffs https://t.co/0ZaiAJnstn
— NFL (@NFL) January 6, 2018
Despite what appeared to be a fumble deep in Chiefs territory was, instead, ruled as stopped forward progress by Triplette. On the next play, Ryan Succop kicked a 49-yard field goal to give Tennessee its first points of the game.
Another key call came in the fourth quarter, and again it overturned a potential Titans fumble.
After a touchdown gave Tennessee a 22-21 lead, the Titans lined up for a two-point conversion with a little more than six minutes remaining in the game.
Mariota went back to pass and was sacked. The ball came loose and was picked up by Kansas City, who appeared to run the ball back for what would have been a two-point score for the Chiefs and would have given them back the lead.
#Chiefs sack Mariota on their second two point attempt. If it was a fumble and not a sack, KC would’ve regained the lead with 2 points of their own. pic.twitter.com/A225btfVjH
— Sak Sports Blog (@SakSports) January 7, 2018
Triplette ruled Mariota was down by the NFL’s generous “in the grasp” policy before he fumbled the ball, but replay showed he was never in the defender’s grasp except when he was thrown to the ground.
While you might think instant replay would have overturned the calls, the fact Triplette had blown both plays dead negated any possible replay review.
Triplette was asked about the calls after the game, but he did not see a problem with his rulings. He said of the first Mariota sack, “the defender hit him and he was driving him back.”
That either sounds like someone convinced in what he say, or someone who doesn’t care anymore because he knows he’ll never have to face accountability when he’s riding off into the sunset.
Will Brinson of CBSSports.com noted that the NFL hadn’t assigned Triplette to a playoff game since 2013 because he had not rated high enough during the previous three seasons to warrant a postseason assignment.
The NFL was dogged by several officiating controversies during the regular season. The last thing the league needs is more controversy in this season’s first postseason game.
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