"Refs are bums" , "It's not even close" - NFL fans left stunned by egregious calls by referees during Colts vs Vikings clash 

The Minnesota Vikings and the Indianapolis Colts played out a classic today, but no thanks to the referees. While trailing 36-28 by a single score, the Minnesota Vikings defense came up clutch. They forced a fumble by the Indianapolis Colts offense and recovered the ball. Cornerback Chandon Sullivan ran it back for a touchdown. That would have made the score 36-34 with a two-point conversion tying the game.

Instead, the referee whistled the play dead as down by contact. Since they had blown the whistle already, the play was called back and the touchdown was ruled out. As it was clearly the wrong call, Minnesota's challenge was upheld and the Vikings offense got the ball back. However, getting the ball back and scoring a touchdown is not the same thing. As it happened, they could not score using that possession and the Colts got the ball back due to a turnover on downs.

NFL fans were not impressed by the botched call and vented on Twitter. As it turned out, it wounded Minnesota's chances of winning the game in regulation time.

Colts v Vikings marred by referring controversies

The Vikings came back from 33-0 down at halftime to tie the game 36-36 in the fourth quarter, but it was the referees who did their best to make this a classic. Because there were a couple of plays which, if they had stood, would have made this more comfortable for the Vikings to beat the Colts. We have already seen one above. Another was also a fumble recovery that was whistled dead because forward progress had stopped.

At that time the Colts were leading only 23-0 and had that stood, they would have made it at least 23-6 before halftime. Then, the comeback might have been more comfortable than the nail-biter we saw today. Instead of a 36-36 tie game with a minute and ten seconds remaining, they would have been in the lead by then.

A win would have sealed a playoff spot and the NFC North for the Minnesota Vikings. But due to this call, they were left with less than a minute to secure the win and could not win in regulation time. It made life needlessly complicated for the fans in the stadium. It made for a classic and it was amazing for the neutrals but referees are there to judge the game fairly and not create a spectacle. As much as casual football fans would have enjoyed this game, Vikings fans would be wary of getting this refereeing crew ever again, especially in the playoffs, if they make it.