# NFL 2023: Week 14 days in a fortnight **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Tags:** football-nfl\ **Created:** [December 7, 2023, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2023-week-14-days-in-a-fortnight/994206 "2023-12-07T00:27:06Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![borschevsky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/97f17d/32.png) [@borschevsky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/borschevsky)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2023, 5:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2023-week-14-days-in-a-fortnight/994206/41 "2023-12-11T05:32:28Z")
It should be the 49ers, since they beat both Dallas and Philly. ---
**Author:** ![Jasmine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jasmine/32/2964_2.png) [@Jasmine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jasmine)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2023, 12:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2023-week-14-days-in-a-fortnight/994206/42 "2023-12-11T12:16:58Z")
Mahomes - “A receiver is usually warned before given an offside penalty. He said Toney was never warned.” Cry me a river! Is this Pop Warner for kids, or is this the NFL? The receiver didn’t notice that he was looking BACK at his own center while he was waiting for the snap? He was so far offsides that his head was blocking the view of the football and his leg was a couple of feet farther offsides. Mahomes and the Walrus were basically saying that an obvious penalty shouldn’t have been called “just because”. Personally, I firmly believe the NFL is grossly over officiated and the officiating is inconsistent at best and crappy at worst, but not just when it hurts a particular team. ---
**Author:** ![EllisDee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellisdee/32/4531_2.png) [@EllisDee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EllisDee)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2023, 12:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2023-week-14-days-in-a-fortnight/994206/43 "2023-12-11T12:47:37Z")
There was another controversial penalty similar to that one earlier this season. I forget who it was, but he even went so far as to point to the ref, which is the traditional way receivers verify with the ref that they are not offside. ---
**Author:** ![Great\_Antibob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47c2d/32.png) [@Great\_Antibob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Great_Antibob)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2023, 1:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2023-week-14-days-in-a-fortnight/994206/44 "2023-12-11T13:31:09Z")
It happens a few times each year but apparently it’s been called more this year than the last several. Here’s one from last season (Cowboys/Packers) about the same thing: > **['No explanation:' Frustrated Cowboys pointing fingers at officials (again)...](https://cowboyswire.usatoday.com/2022/11/14/no-explanation-frustrated-cowboys-blame-officials/)** > > Critical penalties and a DPI non-call in overtime were huge, but several players have reverted to last year’s ploy of blaming refs. | From @ToddBrock24f7 Yeah, it’s ultimately the responsibility of the player but the norm really is to check with the side judge. It really isn’t that easy to tell if you’re lined up a foot or two off. I get the frustration with the officials. It’s a problem that the NFL doesn’t seem to want to address. And it gets made worse by the “Rules Analysts” the networks have hired whose job appears to be defending the officials at every turn rather than providing any real insight into the rules. ---
**Author:** ![muldoonthief](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muldoonthief/32/3188_2.png) [@muldoonthief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/muldoonthief)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2023, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2023-week-14-days-in-a-fortnight/994206/45 "2023-12-11T14:21:17Z")
> [@Locrian](#): > > EAGLES next, and while I don my Eagles jersey (Peters), Eagles hat and Eagles Timex watch (WITH Indiglo, of course), I predict Dallas by 17. Damn, you were one meaningless field goal away from being exactly right. ---
**Author:** ![Railer13](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/railer13/32/9742_2.png) [@Railer13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Railer13)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2023, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2023-week-14-days-in-a-fortnight/994206/46 "2023-12-11T15:14:02Z")
> [@Jasmine](#): > > The receiver didn’t notice that he was looking BACK at his own center while he was waiting for the snap? Speaking as a diehard Chiefs fan, it was obvious that Toney was lined up offside, and it was the correct call. Too bad, because it nullified a play that would have been in the highlight reels for a long time. > [@EllisDee](#): > > he even went so far as to point to the ref, which is the traditional way receivers verify with the ref that they are not offside. This generally happens with a receiver who’s split out far down the line of scrimmage, particularly when he is required to be on the line as part of the formation. In this case, however, Toney was lined up next to the tackle, inside of the tight end who was lined up as flanker. He was less than 10 yards from the ball. No excuses. ---
**Author:** ![Jasmine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jasmine/32/2964_2.png) [@Jasmine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jasmine)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2023, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2023-week-14-days-in-a-fortnight/994206/47 "2023-12-11T15:15:28Z")
> [@Great\_Antibob](#): > > It really isn’t that easy to tell if you’re lined up a foot or two off. If one is trying to judge by just the football, it isn’t easy. I would judge by the five interior linemen. If I’m looking slightly back at them, I would have to know I have a problem. Also, the tackles should be able to see at a glance if the wide receiver on their side is offsides or not. A quick little hand wave would warn them. Another pet peeve of mine is an illegal formation where one eligible receiver is “covering” an eligible receiver. Lord, when you look in at the ball, you don’t notice that “Jake”, another member of the receiving corps, is on the line of scrimmage to your right?! Just take one step back and the problem is averted. ---
**Author:** ![Great\_Antibob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47c2d/32.png) [@Great\_Antibob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Great_Antibob)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2023, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2023-week-14-days-in-a-fortnight/994206/48 "2023-12-11T15:27:49Z")
> [@Jasmine](#): > > If one is trying to judge by just the football, it isn’t easy. I would judge by the five interior linemen. Well, then suit up and play WR It happens several times a year to trained professionals, even, oddly enough, when the receiver checks with the side judge before the play. Still ultimately the responsibility of the player but it’s not totally out of line to suggest the officials have fallen short on their performance. There have been other cases of poor officiating in Chiefs’ games this year and Mahomes has been remarkably circumspect about them until now. I suspect this was just the last straw. It wasn’t even remotely the worst call they’ve been flagged for this season but I’m sure biting their tongues until now has not been easy. ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2023, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2023-week-14-days-in-a-fortnight/994206/49 "2023-12-11T15:35:33Z")
It’s really kind of amazing that with 5 weeks remaining only two teams, one in each conference (Pats and Panthers), have been mathmatically eliminated. ---
**Author:** ![Jasmine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jasmine/32/2964_2.png) [@Jasmine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jasmine)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2023, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2023-week-14-days-in-a-fortnight/994206/50 "2023-12-11T15:52:51Z")
> [@Great\_Antibob](#): > > Well, then suit up and play WR I run fast, but not THAT fast. They hit hard, VERY hard. LOL ---
**Author:** ![ShadowFacts](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shadowfacts/32/2934_2.png) [@ShadowFacts](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShadowFacts)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2023, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2023-week-14-days-in-a-fortnight/994206/51 "2023-12-11T15:56:08Z")
> [@Great\_Antibob](#): > > There have been other cases of poor officiating in Chiefs’ games this year and Mahomes has been remarkably circumspect about them until now. I suspect this was just the last straw. It wasn’t even remotely the worst call they’ve been flagged for this season but I’m sure biting their tongues until now has not been easy. But it wasn’t poor officiating at all - it was an obviously correct call. I don’t care how many “bad calls” you’ve had to swallow from previous games, one should not bitch about correct calls. ---
**Author:** ![LoneRhino](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lonerhino/32/1311_2.png) [@LoneRhino](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LoneRhino)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2023, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2023-week-14-days-in-a-fortnight/994206/52 "2023-12-11T16:09:02Z")
I have NFL+ and I’m tempted to watch the T̶w̶i̶n̶s Vikings - ̶A̶’̶s Raiders 3-0 debacle. On the off chance that anyone here actually watched it, Is it a comedy of errors, great defense, or just a bad game? ---
**Author:** ![Marine\_One](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/marine_one/32/3461_2.png) [@Marine\_One](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marine_One)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2023, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2023-week-14-days-in-a-fortnight/994206/53 "2023-12-11T18:40:15Z")
Chiefs fan here. So after the game, Andy Reid said “The offense is getting better.” Well, no, it is NOT. He’s said that before about dropped passes all year. Someone ask Reid if the lateral pass from Kelce was a planned play. He said “Next question.” ---
**Author:** ![TroutMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troutman/32/6721_2.png) [@TroutMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TroutMan)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2023, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2023-week-14-days-in-a-fortnight/994206/54 "2023-12-11T18:52:58Z")
Is that because it obviously was planned, or because he doesn’t want to give up playbook secrets? ---
**Author:** ![ShadowFacts](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shadowfacts/32/2934_2.png) [@ShadowFacts](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShadowFacts)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2023, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2023-week-14-days-in-a-fortnight/994206/55 "2023-12-11T19:20:16Z")
When I watched it in real time, I thought it looked obviously planned/practiced, so my answer to your question is “both.” ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2023, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2023-week-14-days-in-a-fortnight/994206/56 "2023-12-11T19:29:45Z")
Huh. I’m somehow even more impressed that it was planned. ---
**Author:** ![ShadowFacts](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shadowfacts/32/2934_2.png) [@ShadowFacts](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShadowFacts)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2023, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2023-week-14-days-in-a-fortnight/994206/57 "2023-12-11T19:44:22Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > I’m somehow even more impressed that it was planned. Well, that’s just my opinion. And I was once known to be wrong… ---
**Author:** ![SenorBeef](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senorbeef/32/2220_2.png) [@SenorBeef](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SenorBeef)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2023, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2023-week-14-days-in-a-fortnight/994206/58 "2023-12-11T20:24:52Z")
Woops, I saw a graphic on reddit but I didn’t source it. Flacco is looking pretty good for a guy who was on his couch a few weeks ago. Browns schedule is relatively weak going forward and if they make a run then you’ve gotta deal with Playoff Joe Flacco. ---
**Author:** ![Chisquirrel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6bbea6/32.png) [@Chisquirrel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chisquirrel)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2023, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2023-week-14-days-in-a-fortnight/994206/59 "2023-12-11T23:39:39Z")
ELITE! Yes, that’s a complete sentence, Discourse. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2023, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2023-week-14-days-in-a-fortnight/994206/60 "2023-12-11T23:47:11Z")
Chargers QB Justin Herbert suffered a broken right index finger during yesterday’s game, and plans are that he’ll have surgery on it tomorrow. The team indicates that he’ll be out for this Thursday’s game against the Raiders, meaning that backup Easton Stick\* will be likely starting for the Chargers. I read a stat earlier today that, so far this season, 17 NFL teams have started multiple QBs; this looks likely to make that 18. \*- My niece played high school softball, and I think she batted with an Easton Stick. 😉 > **[Source: Herbert likely to have surgery Tuesday](https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/39090664/source-chargers-justin-herbert-expected-thursday)** > > Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert is not expected to play Thursday night against the Las Vegas Raiders due to his fractured right index finger, a source told ESPN's Adam Schefter. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2023-week-14-days-in-a-fortnight/994206.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2023-week-14-days-in-a-fortnight/994206.md?page=4)