NFL’s First Half in Review: The most controversial plays

We’re looking back on the first half of the 2014 NFL season and picking our superlatives at the midway point, with Shutdown Corner writers Eric Edholm, Jay Busbee and Frank Schwab weighing in.

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Here are the three most controversial plays of the first half:

Official moves Patriots player out of the way before Jets game-winning field-goal attempt, saving New England from a penalty
When the Jets lined up for a game-winning field goal against the Patriots, linebacker Dont’a Hightower lined up over the long snapper, which is illegal. The official shoved Hightower to a legal spot, the kick was blocked, and the Patriots won. Whether that was a normal officiating mechanism (as most officiating experts said it was after the controversy blew up), it looked like New England got some extra help.

Steve Smith’s offensive pass interference costs the Ravens a win
Smith looked to win a Week 8 game against the Ravens with a long touchdown in the final minute. But he was called for shoving Bengals safety George Iloka to the ground to catch the pass. Was it a flop? Or was it a justified penalty call?

Denver tight end Julius Thomas’ chop block injures Arizona defensive end Calais Campbell
Cardinals coach Bruce Arians will speak his mind, and did he ever on Thomas’ illegal block. He said it was the dirtiest play he has seen in 37 years in football, and wanted Thomas suspended as long as Campbell was out with the resulting knee injury. Thomas was fined $8,268. Campbell missed two games.

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Frank Schwab is the editor of Shutdown Corner on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter! Follow @YahooSchwab

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