The Rams have sent videotape to the NFL’s offices with plays they believe the Patriots should have been assessed penalties for during New England’s 23-16 win last Sunday. The Patriots weren’t flagged even once during the game.
“Never ever, ever, ever played a perfect team before,” Rams guard Richie Incognito said about the disparity, according to the report. “That’s all I am going to say on that one.”
During the game, the Rams were flagged 12 times (with three penalties declined) for 63 yards; the Patriots were flagged once, with the Rams declining that penalty.
The Post-Dispatch reported that Haslett pointed out three plays he believed should have resulted in personal fouls against the Patriots: a grab of quarterback Marc Bulger’s face mask; a late hit on Bulger; and an out-of-bounds hit on cornerback Fakhir Brown following an interception.
Haslett also said the Rams were hurt by a poor placement on a punt that Donnie Jones kicked out of bounds during the fourth quarter, according to the report. New England took possession at its 48-yard line and tied the score at 16 on a field goal six plays later.
“I thought we should’ve had at least another 10 yards,” Haslett said of the placement, according to the report.
Well this plays into the hands of conspiracy theorists that believe the league is out to aid the Patriots anyway they can. I’m not into that sort of thing, but even I have to admit it’s amazing that a team isn’t flagged once during an entire game. That’s hard to do.