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NFL Fans Demand Investigation Into Two Playoff Referees

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This article was originally published on Total Pro Sports.

NFL referees talking to each other (Photo By Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images)

NFL fans wanted answers after controversial calls overshadowed the first day of the 2025-26 playoffs. The Rams and Bears won their Wild Card games, but many viewers talked more about the referees than the action on the field.

The Rams beat the Panthers earlier Saturday. Matthew Stafford led Los Angeles to the Divisional Round, but Carolina stayed close and made it a tight game until the end.

Later that night, the Bears pulled off a great comeback against the Packers. Chicago erased a 21-3 halftime deficit to win in front of its home crowd and cap an emotional playoff opener.

Moreover, cameras also caught another tense postgame handshake between Matt LaFleur and Ben Johnson, which added more drama to the opening day of the playoffs.

Fans Question Key Calls And Demand Review

Green Bay Packers and Chicago Bears (Photo Via Imagn Images)

Fans quickly took to social media during both games to complain about the officiating. Many questioned important calls and missed calls that significantly impacted some scenarios. Several fans even called on the NFL to investigate the referees.

In the Rams vs. Panthers game, one penalty against a Carolina defender for his hit on Davante Adams upset a lot of viewers.

Fans felt the defender made a normal football play and did nothing wrong. A clip of the call spread fast online, with many asking what defenders are supposed to do in that situation. Most felt the penalty was soft and unnecessary.

Anger also carried over into the Bears vs. Packers game. Packers fans were furious over a missed pass interference call late in the game. Replays appeared to show contact before the ball arrived, but the referee did not throw a flag. The no-call helped Chicago keep its momentum during the comeback.

“I can’t be the only one that thinks this is clearly pass interference?” one fan wrote on social media during the game.

“Are the refs supposed to just not call a helmet to helmet hit?” another said.

“I think they want him to hit him low, so he blows out his knee, flips and gets concussed by the ground. (Sarcasm.),” One commented.

Chicago used the home crowd’s energy and strong second-half play to complete its comeback. Still, many fans felt the officiating may have influenced the outcome. Calls for more consistency in playoff games grew louder.

The NFL has not commented on the officiating from Saturday. The league can review referee performances internally. For now, fans are waiting to see if the NFL responds as the playoffs move forward.

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