Digesting the 21-20 loss to the Denver Broncos on Sunday night has been a little more difficult for Vikings Nation because meat was left on the bone, not only because of turnovers but also because the officials kept the flags in their pockets on numerous plays that could’ve been penalties on Denver.
The most glaring no-calls were violent hits, one by safety Kareem Jackson on Josh Dobbs and then another when running back Alexander Mattison was annihilated by Alex Singleton.
The hit on Dobbs happened on the third play of the game. Dobbs fumbled and the Broncos recovered, resulting in a field goal and a 3-0 lead. Had a flag been thrown, Minnesota would’ve had the ball at midfield with a first down.
“No matter what, we can’t turn the football over. I do know he took a pretty good shot to the helmet on the play,” head coach Kevin O’Connell said.
Kareem Jackson has been fined, ejected and suspended this season for lowering his head and launching…
Guy's learned nothing.
This is dangerous to both himself and who he's targeting. pic.twitter.com/i9BtxEv8lF
— Sam Monson (@SamMonsonNFL) November 20, 2023
Jackson got away with the nasty hit on Dobbs despite it being his first game back from a two-game suspension for an unnecessary roughness hit against the Packers. Jackson has been suspended and fined four times for five unnecessary roughness penalties this season.
A fine or suspension could be coming for Jackson as NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reported Monday morning that the NFL is investigating the hit.
Singleton lowered his head and went straight into the chest of Mattison in the fourth quarter. Mattison was stood up and being dragged to the ground when Singleton smashed him. It happened right in front of the side judge, a hit that appeared so obviously illegal to Mattison that he looked perplexed that a flag wasn’t thrown.
Mattison gets speared right in front of the official.
No call.
pic.twitter.com/7JQBHtRZOX— We Talk Vikings (@WeTalkVikings) November 20, 2023
Mattison was just a week removed from suffering a concussion against the Saints.
Minnesota was facing 1st-and-20 at the Denver 48-yard line when Mattison was drilled. They wound up converting a first down despite facing 3rd-and-20 and the drive ended in a field goal.
Those weren’t the only calls that could’ve been flagged. Brandon Powell was hit late after he went out of bounds on a punt return and Dobbs’ face mask was pulled late in the fourth quarter when he was in the pocket.
