After getting the best of arguably the best team in the NFL in Week 6, with the Cleveland Browns beating the San Francisco 49ers, Kevin Stefanski and company were not expected to have much trouble with the Indianapolis Colts in Week 7.
Although the Colts have played better than expected this season, even after losing rookie quarterback Anthony Richardson to a season-ending shoulder injury, the Browns defense was thought to do a number on Gardner Minshew and this squad in Indianapolis.
That didn’t turn out to be the case as this game went back and forth throughout the entire contest with no telling what the final outcome would be, as it seemed that the last team with the ball would be the one that comes out on top.
Fans were particularly upset with an illegal contact penalty that was called near the end of the game after the Colts had caused a turnover that would have sealed the win.
The Colts get a fumble to seal the game and the refs bail out the Browns with a penalty to give the ball back to the Browns pic.twitter.com/tOd7fLYdwK
— CFBBlueprint (@CFBBluePrint) October 22, 2023
Ultimately, the Browns were able to escape with a one-point win on the road, which many fans are chalking up to the referees, helping them come out on top in the end via NFL’s Twitter.
FINAL: @Browns win a wild one in Indy. #CLEvsIND pic.twitter.com/eJZIKtwJUA
— NFL (@NFL) October 22, 2023
Here are some fan reactions to the Browns getting the best of the Colts.
NFL officiating is a joke
— Quoth the Raven (@QTRResearch) October 22, 2023
What a comeback by the refs to beat the Colts!!
— Last Take™ (@TheRealLastTake) October 22, 2023
These are the kind of games that make me believe the conspiracy theories….
— Objectively, Embiid. (@Object_Joel) October 22, 2023
That officiating needs to be investigated
— travis (@HALI4MVP) October 22, 2023
Even though the fans are going in and saying that the refs helped the Browns get the win on Sunday by edging out the Colts in the final moments of the game, these kinds of games happen in the NFL.
This is professional football, where any team can win on any given Sunday, making this sport so entertaining to watch.
Along with the Colts giving the Browns everything they could handle, the New England Patriots beat the Buffalo Bills and the Baltimore Ravens crushed the Detroit Lions.
These things happen.
NEXT:
Fans React To Myles Garrett’s Impressive Play Over 49ers All-Pro