Adams, Matthews sound off on officiating after Packers tie Vikings
Wide receiver Davante Adams held the officials responsible Sunday for the Green Bay Packers' failure to come out of Week 2 with a win over the Minnesota Vikings.
"The reffing today, I'm not one to even go there, especially in front of the cameras, but it was questionable all game," Adams told reporters, according to ESPN's Jason Wilde. " ... That's why you can't put the officials in position to determine the outcome of the game."
The Packers and Vikings played to a 29-29 overtime draw, but that was after Green Bay appeared to have a win wrapped up at the end of regulation. In the final minute of the fourth quarter, the Packers intercepted Kirk Cousins, only to have the turnover negated by a questionable penalty for roughing the passer against Clay Matthews.
Do not hit quarterbacks high. Do not hit quarterbacks low. Do not hit them in the midriff. Roughing the passer on Clay Matthews. pic.twitter.com/pFyMnXxqxG
— Ollie Connolly (@OllieConnolly) September 16, 2018
Cousins and the Vikings parlayed the extra opportunity into a game-tying touchdown in the final seconds, forcing extra time.
"It was terrible," Adams said of the officiating.
It was the second straight week in which Matthews took a critical penalty late in the fourth quarter and gave the opposing team new life. The six-time Pro Bowler was perplexed over the flag he received for tackling Cousins on what appeared to be a harmless play.
"There are so many emotions running through (me) as far as what a terrible call it was, but at the same time, I don't know what else to do," Matthews said postgame, according to Sporting News' Alexis Mansanarez. "I don't know, you let me know. Did I put pressure on him? Because I thought I hit him within the waist to chest (area). I got my head across, put my hands down and to call it at that point in the game is unbelievable.
"Last week, OK, shame on me, but this week - that's unbelievable and the worst part is, we'll probably send it in and you know what they are going to say - they'll find fault on me because they are going to agree with the refs. I don't know. It's a difficult call to call and you saw how it changed the game and I know there's an emphasis on protecting quarterbacks but it's gotten out of control now."