NFL Launches Probe into Referee Shawn Smith Amid Bills Mafia Outrage Over Controversial Calls vs Falcons
Amid Outrage from the NFL Community and Bills Mafia, the NFL Launches an Investigation into Referee Crew Shawn Smith After a Series of Controversial Calls in the Bills vs Falcons Game
Buffalo, New York – October 14, 2025
The NFL has launched an internal investigation into the officiating crew led by Shawn Smith following widespread outrage over several controversial calls during the Buffalo Bills’ 24–14 loss to the Atlanta Falcons on Monday Night Football.
WOW: The refs missed an obvious hip-drop tackle on the #Falcons that injured #Bills wide receiver Joshua Palmer.
— MLFootball (@_MLFootball) October 14, 2025
There was no flag thrown for this hip drop penalty.
Buffalo can not be happy with this.
The flag on the play was for something else.
pic.twitter.com/nAZtuLKXPA
The controversy stems from a viral video posted by @_MLFootball on X (formerly Twitter), which accused officials of missing a clear hip-drop tackle by Falcons cornerback Mike Hughes that left Bills wide receiver Joshua Palmer injured. The 17-second clip, viewed over 37,000 times, shows Hughes wrapping around Palmer’s waist before pulling him down from behind — a motion matching the hip-drop technique banned by the NFL in 2024 for its high risk of leg and ankle injuries.
“WOW: The refs missed an obvious hip-drop tackle on the #Falcons that injured #Bills wide receiver Joshua Palmer. There was no flag thrown for this penalty,” the post read.
The incident reignited debate around the NFL’s enforcement of safety rules. While some fans defended the referees, many accused the crew of ignoring a “textbook violation.”
Former Bills quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick, now an analyst for Thursday Night Football, didn’t hold back his frustration:
“That was a clear hip-drop tackle. The rule was made to protect players — if it’s not enforced, then what’s the point?”
“That was a blatant foul, but not a single flag came out. If we’re going to talk about safety, then these calls have to mean something. You can’t just pick and choose when to care about player health.”
According to league sources, the NFL Officiating Department is reviewing the full game footage and audio communications from the Shawn Smith crew to determine whether proper procedures were followed. The investigation will focus on potential non-enforcement of the league’s player-safety policy.
Across social media, Bills fans — known collectively as Bills Mafia — expressed outrage using hashtags like #ProtectThePlayers and #FixTheRefs, demanding accountability and transparency from the league.
The controversy highlights a growing concern in the NFL: inconsistent officiating. As analysts at ESPN noted, missed penalties like this undermine the league’s commitment to player safety and fair competition.
As of Tuesday morning, the NFL has not issued an official statement, but insiders suggest disciplinary measures or mandatory retraining for the Shawn Smith crew could be considered depending on the investigation’s outcome.
“Player safety can’t just be a slogan,” Fitzpatrick emphasized. “If that wasn’t a flag, then the NFL needs to take a long, hard look at what it truly stands for.”
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