Sept 24, 2017. Falcons vs Lions. The ten second runoff. For those that don't know, the Lions were driving for the win, when Golden Tate caught a ball from Matt Stafford and dove into the end zone for the win. The Lions assumed he was short, so Stafford had them all lined up to snap the next play, BUT all TDs are automatically reviewed. So they reviewed it and called it short. Then they invoked the 10 second runoff rule to end the game. The 10 second run off rule is to make sure the offense doesn't fake injuries or game the clock to get an extra timeout. It was never meant to cover a stoppage initiated by the referees. But fuck it, it is the Lions and no one outside Detroit would care, and it is hardly the first time referees made up rules or rule interpretations on the spot to screw over the Lions. (Calvin Johnson rule, which wasn't a rule in the NFL until two and a half years AFTER the catch/no catch).

I had to stop watching for a few weeks.

I turned off a lot of Patriots games due to obvious favoritism toward Brady.

I stopped watching when they screwed the Saints against the Rams in 2018 Playoffs. I watch highlights the next day now, never a full game.

I have to remind myself that I watch this for entertainment. If it's not enjoyable I need to turn it off and walk away. I've had lots of practice over the years as a Lions fan. I tend to turn it off when it becomes a shitshow.

I’ve never felt there has been a single call bad enough for me to stop watching. It’s consistent calls that are BS that make me stop watching. This is more apparent in baseball whenever Angel Hernandez is home base ump.

Seahawks fan here, I'll never forget a Superbowl was stolen from us by the refs. It's a massive bummer to think about that game and the apologies from the head ref years later confirming what I already knew.

But I just try and remember that it's part of the game. Just like an ump with an off strike zone, you just hope that it's consistent on both teams.

I don't think the refs pick sides but I do think they can't help but see differences when it comes to colors. Some teams will get a natural advantage and disadvantage because of the colors on their uniforms.

I've been a Lions fan for almost twenty-five years, so...