CATCH A BREAK?
Unfair ref treatment, lack of protection is ‘bull c--p’
to return should be fired, while the television announcers questioned the play call because of Smith’s previous injury.
DAK’S HOW YOU DO IT
Dak Prescott threw a 5-yard touchdown pass to Jason Witten in overtime, giving the host Dallas Cowboys their sixth straight win with a 2923 victory over the Philadelphia Eagles.
Prescott rallied the Cowboys with a late tying touchdown pass to Dez Bryant and won the rookie quarterback duel with Carson Wentz. Dallas (6-1) took a two-game division lead after rallying from a 10-point deficit in
the fourth quarter.
NORMAN’S A REF RIDER
Josh Norman berated field judge Brad Freeman following Washington’s 27-27 tie with the Cincinnati Bengals in London, saying Freeman made a number of questionable officiating decisions during the game. Norman was asked about his matchup with Bengals wide receiver A.J. Green, but instead used the question to launch into a tirade against Freeman. “Who is official 88? He sucked,” Norman said, referring to Freeman’s number because he did not know his name. “I’m just gonna be honest with you. I’m gonna be straightforward. He was terrible. I feel like he should be reprimanded. I feel like some of the plays that was going on out there, it was just — I mean, it was terrible.”
Norman was called for five penalties — two of which were declined — and was flagged four times for illegal use of hands. Each of those violations occurred when the cornerback was matched up with Green.
PATS STICK IT TO BILLS
The Patriots got a fan’s serving of a bogus Buffalo-sized baby-maker during a first-andgoal play against the Bills on Sunday.
With New England up by two touchdowns in the third quarter, someone — perhaps a disgruntled Bills fan — tried to thwart Pats wide receiver Chris Hogan from entering the end zone by hurling a sex toy onto the field that landed on the one-yard line.
The fake fun stick came up short, though, as the Bills defenders stopped Hogan at the three.
A fan video showed referees waiting several seconds before one of the them lined up to kick the thing off the field, which triggered applause from the crowd.
As it turns out, the molded member provided most of the afternoon delight for Bills fans, who saw their team drop to 4-4 with a 41-25 loss to its virile rival.
Adding to the Patriots’ pleasure Sunday, tight end Rob Gronkowski also scored his highly anticipated franchise record 69th touchdown.
BUMMER LOVIN’
It’s all fun and games until somebody hugs the referee. That’s what Seahawks safety Earl Thomas found out during Sunday’s loss to the New Orleans Saints.
Thomas recovered a fumble by Mark Ingram and returned it 34 yards for a touchdown, giving the Seahawks an early 7-0 lead in an eventual 25-20 loss.
Thomas celebrated by handing the ball to a fan in the stands, before running over to an official and giving him a big hug.
The official, side judge Alex Kemp, wasn’t feeling the love from Thomas and flagged him for an unsportsmanlike penalty.
“I just found out they penalized me for that,” he told reporters at his locker. “I’m having fun, just excited about the moment. I only live three hours away from here. I’m just thinking like, ‘Man, everybody back home just saw me score.’ You never know what happens when you go into these games, and then the ball goes your way. Just an exciting moment. That’s just how I celebrated.”
PHILLIPS CARTED OFF
Broncos defensive coordinator Wade Phillips was carted off the field on a backboard after being upended by a San Diego player who was blocked into the Denver sideline.
Chargers running back Melvin Gordon was blocked into the sideline while trying to catch Bradley Roby on an interception return during Denver’s 27-19 win. Gordon upended Phillips, and the back of the 69-year-old coach’s head slammed against the ground.
Players surrounded Phillips, and after about five minutes, he was secured to a backboard, then carted off the field.
The team said the 69-year-old coach was expected at work Monday.
COACHES’ SPAT
Houston coach Bill O’Brien was seen yelling at special teams coach Larry Izzo after the Texans had just 10 men on the field for the opening kickoff of the second half of a 20-13 win over the Lions. O’Brien got in Izzo’s face and yelled for several seconds before being pushed away by another member of the staff. He turned around for a second and started to walk away before whipping back around and screaming at Izzo for several more seconds.
—Staff & wire reports