NFL ref and Pittsburgh Steelers vs. New York Jets (Photos via NBC Sports)

Football fans are accusing the NFL refs of “rigging” the Pittsburgh Steelers-New York Jets “Sunday Night Football” game after they made a brutal game-changing call during the second quarter.

Aaron Rodgers threw a touchdown to Tyler Conklin that increased the Jets’ lead to seven points. Greg Zuerlein’s extra point attempt was blocked, but the NFL refs penalized Steelers safety Minkah Fitzpatrick for “leverage”, allowing New York to run a play at the one-yard line.

Rodgers hit Garrett Wilson for a two-point conversion, putting the Jets ahead 15-6 in a potential game-changing play. That call put the Jets up two scores, so Russell Wilson’s touchdown pass to Geoge Pickens at the end of the half cut the deficit to two points instead of tying it up.

And what happens when the NFL refs make a terrible call that potentially affects the outcome of a game? In come the “rigged” cries from fans:

That wasn’t the only questionable call, either, as Jets head coach Jeff Ulbrich appeared to throw a challenge flag before the Jets snapped the ball and Aaron Rodgers found Tyler Conklin in the end zone for the touchdown that led to the controversial extra-point attempt.

The officials ruled that the flag came out after the snap, but it sure didn’t sound like that during the broadcast — nor did it appear that way in the video replay that was later shown to the television audience.

NBC rules analyst and former NFL referee Terry McAulay said on the broadcast that he disagreed with the call against Fitzpatrick, too. So it’ll be interesting to see what the NFL refs say in the pool report.

NFL Refs Make Another Head-Scratching Call

Leverage is one of the rarest penalty infractions called in the NFL. If you weren’t confused about the rule to begin with, well, the refs in tonight’s game between the Jets and Steelers only made it more perplexing.

NFL officials have again stolen the spotlight far too often this season, with no consistency on judgment calls like holding, pass interference and roughing the passer. They did themselves no favors with this call against Fitzpatrick.