After the San Francisco 49ers’ win over the Washington Commanders, fans are calling for the league to punish players over hits they say officials missed
NFL fans were furious after the 49ers-Commanders game
NFL fans were furious after the 49ers-Commanders game(Image: Getty)
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The 49ers are 6-0, and a lot of NFL fans think they got there with help from the officials.
San Francisco beat the Washington Commanders 23-17 on Monday night, but the postgame conversation centered on several hits that drew no flags. Fans pointed to three players: linebacker Fred Warner, rookie defensive tackle Gracen Halton and safety Malik Mustapha.
The loudest complaints were about Warner, who uses boxing as a training regimen in an effort to practice forcing fumbles. Warner lit up tight end Chig Onkonwo on a third down play and was flagged for an illegal hit, but saw the flag picked up moments later. “Fred Warner AGAIN leading with the helmet. No penalty…” one fan wrote. Another said, “There has been at least 4 to 5 helmet to helmet hits from SF tonight.” A third wrote, “Warner head hunted ALL NIGHT!! The one time they called it, they picked it up! Egregious no calls!!! This officiating has been nauseating all year!!!”
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Another fan accused San Francisco of “doing dirty s--- all game,” adding that Warner was “hitting everybody with the crown of his helmet and getting away with it.”
Washington fans also went after Halton. They called for the rookie to be suspended after a low hit sent Commanders right guard Sam Cosmi to the medical tent in the fourth quarter.
Cosmi went down on the field, and Nick Allegretti took his place. Fans called the play “dirty and dangerous” and “awful," while one user wrote, "About half of the 49ers team needs to be fined or suspended for all the dirty hits they've had today."
Shannon Sharpe, who had the rookie on his show just a week ago, weighed in on the play, writing, “Dirty A-- play by 93 of the 49ers. That’s bush league. Could really injure that man.”
Mustapha drew his own criticism. On a third-and-5 in the second quarter, his hit on Stefon Diggs forced an incompletion and appeared to injure Diggs’ hand.
Washington settled for a field goal, and the 49ers scored on the next drive to make it 13-3. ESPN’s broadcast team questioned the non-call. “I think Mustapha got away with one right there,” Troy Aikman said.
Fans are accusing Fred Warner of being a "dirty" player
Fans are accusing Fred Warner of being a "dirty" player(Image: Getty)
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One account wrote, “THIS IS AN AWFUL MISSED CALL BY THE REFS,” saying the hit was to the head and neck area and changed the drive from seven points to three.
The NFL does review plays after the fact and can issue fines even when no flag was thrown, and Mustapha could face one this week.
San Francisco’s defense also played a big role in the win, with Mustapha breaking up a fourth-down pass to Treylon Burks with 1:54 left, and Daniels was sacked on the final play.
The Commanders fell to 1-4-1, and the 49ers host the Atlanta Falcons next.