The officiating crew for Browns vs. Seahawks stunk; Fine me!

The longstanding rivalry between the Cleveland Browns and the NFL officiating crew went to a new level yesterday, costing them numerous chances to win.

Usually, I am allergic to fans who blame officiating crews for the loss of their favorite game, but yesterday’s crew during the Cleveland Browns vs. Seattle Seahawks game were downright terrible. Go ahead, fine me.

Throughout most of this season, it has been easy to say the Browns have been playing sloppy and getting penalized, because, well, it has been true. Yesterday against the Seahawks was a completely different story, however, as nine times for 83 yards; most of which can be called acceptable except one drive in particular.

After a Seahawks’ touchdown in the third quarter, the Browns desperately needed a score; for only the second time this season, the offensive game plan seemed to be working like a well-oiled machine. Then the yellow laundry started to hit the turf at FirstEnergy Stadium and in the blink of an eye, the drive was over.

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Quarterback Mayfield hits Odell Beckham Jr. for an 18-yard strike over the middle, but it was called back on a suspect ineligible man downfield. The very next play, Baker hits Nick Chubb on a screen-play when another flag was thrown on potentially the worst call of the season; Jarvis Landry flagged for a blindside block while clearly face-to-face with a defender running in his direction.

Just like that, it is second and 22 and the Browns are too deep into a hole they could do nothing to avoid. Landry got his moment of redemption on the next drive, however, or at least he should have until the zebras ruined another positive play for him.

How the referees can look at a massive screen in FirstEnergy Stadium, see the ball cross the plane on a blown-up replay after Mayfield hit Landry on a screen, and still say he did not score is beyond common sense. While head coach Freddie Kitchens probably should not have challenged the ruling as he would need that challenge later, it was a call that should not have been missed.

Then, with Browns down by just four with no timeouts and a third and seven, Seahawks’ quarterback Russell Wilson hit rookie wideout D.K. Metcalf on an eight-yard gain. Except he didn’t as T.J. Carrie clearly knocked the ball out of Metcalf’s hands right in front of the side judge.

The ref called it a catch, it was not within the last two minutes, and the Browns did not have a challenge. A blown call in the face of the side judge cost the Browns a chance to potentially tie or win the game with two minutes to go as they would have forced a field goal attempt.

The Browns were clearly held back by numerous suspect calls yesterday afternoon, it is a story that has been heard many times, and one that is getting rather old. The NFL has an officiating problem, and while coaches and players will get fined for it, a blogger will not.