Maybe Utah has a beef about the refs being inconsistent. We have all scrutinized the video on the 4th and 10. If we were to scrutinize a large sample size of other similar plays, would we see that many other more or less equally egregious defensive holds were NOT called? If Utah’s cornerbacks were getting away with holding all night, it’s not unreasonable for Utah to be upset at the inconsistency.

There’s always going to be some inconsistency with human refs in subjective situations like that. But I’m really wondering if Utah D is coached to play “aggressive” (borderline holds by the corners on every pass play, knowing they won’t get called because they are Utah, with that vaunted defense, talented DBs, etc.). In which case I am somewhat sympathetic to feeling frustrated about the changing standard.

Even if that’s the case, it would be difficult for them to say something like, “Our cornerbacks were doing it all night, and it wasn’t being called; how dare you start calling it just as we’re nailing the coffin shut!”

I’m no expert, but I suspect Utah’s corners consistently holding (and it not being called) was a big reason why their pass rush was so effective—hot receiver not being able to get separation.