The Packers pulled away from the Titans in the second half of their Sunday Night Football matchup in Week 16 -- with a major assist from the referees.
The officials completely whiffed on a key play early in the third quarter, when star Green Bay running back Aaron Jones extended a first-down scamper after appearing to step out of bounds at snowy Lambeau Field.
Replays showed Jones' left foot clearly on the white sideline. The field was clear of snow on the yard lines and along the sidelines.
The Titans, compounding the missed call, curiously declined to challenge the big gain before the Packers hurriedly ran their next play, allowing the 59-yard scamper to stand.
Coach Mike Vrabel told reporters after the game that his staff didn't have enough time to review the play.
NBC Sports announcers Al Michaels and Cris Collinsworth called the apparent non-call in real time, and noted during replays that Titans defenders seemed to give up on the play when Jones stepped out of bounds.
Jones was ultimately wrestled down inside the 10, setting up a short touchdown on a pass from Aaron Rodgers to Davante Adams.
The touchdown once again gave the Packers a two-score lead, a firm response after Tennessee opened the second half with a touchdown score of its own.
The Jones play didn't decide the game, but it did mark a decisive shift in momentum squarely in the Packers' favor. Green Bay coasted to a 40-14 victory after padding its lead.
The Jones play prompted a torrent of jokes and criticism from football observers and fans on social media.
That was an an unforgivable error by that official. He was in perfect position to see Aaron Jones step out of bounds. @nfl I refuse to believe he didn't see that. @Titans got shafted on that play
— RJ Coleman (@RJColeman14) December 28, 2020
According to the refs Aaron Jones was in and a Titans player was offsides. Lol the home cookig Green Bay gets is just wild pic.twitter.com/bQGfI9yPkF
— jesse (@jah_318) December 28, 2020
It's just too much to expect a professional NFL official to make the correct call when the player with the ball steps out of bounds a few yards from him. I should bring down my standards. pic.twitter.com/2Ckol02pK7
— Venting Xennial (@ventingxennial) December 28, 2020
Packers fans watching the replay of Aaron Jones run pic.twitter.com/sQdEO0XkwU
— NFL Memery (@nflmemes777) December 28, 2020
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