NFL Moves Officials From Eagles-Commanders Primetime Game

The crew led by Alex Moore will no longer officiate the Philadelphia Eagles’ game against the Washington Commanders on Sunday Night Football. It has instead been assigned to the New England Patriots-Miami Dolphins game, while Shawn Hochuli’s crew takes the primetime matchup in Washington. The change was described as a move aimed more at optics than punishment.

Moore’s crew drew criticism during Detroit’s 20-17 win over Green Bay in Week 7. Among the disputed decisions were two roughing-the-passer penalties against the Packers and an unnecessary-roughness call against Lions linebacker Derrick Barnes.

Fox commentator Tom Brady objected to several rulings during the broadcast. On the penalty against Barnes, called after he hit Packers running back MarShawn Lloyd as a pass went beyond him, Brady said, “That’s allowed 99 out of 100 times.” He also challenged a late roughing-the-passer call on defensive tackle Karl Brooks.

The game included other contentious calls. Green Bay coach Matt LaFleur and player Devonte Wyatt said they did not hear a whistle before Wyatt tackled Detroit receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown a second time. Referee Moore said officials considered the play over before Wyatt’s additional tackle. Brady and Fox rules analyst Dean Blandino also questioned an intentional-grounding penalty against Packers quarterback Jordan Love.

The crew change comes as the Broncos-Chiefs game is scheduled to air opposite Patriots-Dolphins in the afternoon slot. Brady’s criticism of the Week 7 officiating was heard by a reported 24.67 million viewers.