Referees may have known the push from Chris Jones was coming in the Patriots’ overtime loss to New York.
The Jets “alerted officials” to watch for a push from the Patriots’ special teamers, according to Albert Breer of NFL.com. New York have done so because Jones pulled a similar move against the Saints the week prior.
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The rule forbidding players from pushing teammates into the offensive backfield was instituted this season. It’s an unnecessary roughness penalty, though it was called unsportsmanlike conduct on the field. Jones pushed Will Svitek into New York’s line. The Jets were attempting at 56-yard field goal on the play, which Nick Folk missed. After the penalty, Folk was able to hit a much-more-manageable 42-yarder.
What’s slightly odd about the Jets alerting officials is that they pulled off a similar play at the end of the fourth quarter. Quinton Coples was lined up in the same position as Jones and pushed his teammate over the long snapper. He was not flagged for the act.
