Referees Grant Browns a 'Mercy Win'

Forget the turnovers, leave out the poor third down efficiency, throw away the Swiss cheese defense, don't remind me about the less than 200 yards of Jets offense, the Jets could have, and should have won their game against the Browns. The only problem was that they weren't playing the Browns, they were playing against the referees as well. Although I was able to watch the whole game, I am pretty bad when I don't get a chance to write down notes about plays. On Sunday, I had no such chance, but the whole game, the defensive holding the Jets encountered by Browns defenders was really frustrating me.

The more I think about it, I am sure that you readers were paying closer attention than I, and can probably remember specific instances where this was the case. If so, please note them in the comments.

Clearly the most egregious of calls was the game-ending fourth and four pass to Chris Baker in the end zone. A play that would have set the Jets up for an extra point attempt to take the game into overtime. The pushout call never came, and the Jets, and their fans were left bewildered. Recounts Chris Baker who was eavesdropping on the officials:

"The referee to the side who had a better view was telling the other referee, 'He's coming down in-bounds,' " Baker said. "Then they went back and forth and they ended up saying no. It doesn't get more disappointing than that."

You can decide for yourself what you thought of the call with pictures after the jump.