Matt Marton-Imagn Images

NFL Officials Under Fire for Shedeur Sanders Decision

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Max Escarpio | Last updated Dec 14, 2025 2:54 PM ET

The Cleveland Browns entered Week 15 with a 3-10 record and a tough game on the road against the 9-4 Chicago Bears.

The weather conditions also were expected to be a difficult task for the Browns.

Rookie quarterback Shedeur Sanders, who was officially named the starter for the rest of the year, made his fourth regular-season start on Sunday.

The Browns went into the weekend with a flurry of injuries, including several starting offensive lineman.

The first half of the game did not go well as the Bears took a 14-0 lead into halftime.

Sanders went just 4-of-10 for 54 yards while being sacked twice, and the browns had 57 yards of total offense.

Cleveland Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders (12) Matt Marton-Imagn Images

Right before the two-minute warning in the second quarter, Sanders was sacked by Bears star Austin Booker on a 3rd-and-8 play.

However, the ball had come out of Sanders' hands, but the referees ruled forward progress and called it a sack on the field.

This was called forward progress instead of a strip-sack for the Bears on Shedeur Sanders.

‍♂️pic.twitter.com/Ew3cLRDixi
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) December 14, 2025

After the call, fans immediately took to social media to question the move by the referees.

"NFL officiating is a PROBLEM," one fan wrote. "NFL doing everything they can to save Shedeur," another said.

"Huh that whistle was blown after the ball was out?? Interesting call seems like @NFL is protecting baby Sheduer," said another.

"HOW DO THE REFS CALL THIS DEAD?!? THAT IS ONE OF THE WORST CALLS I HAVE EVER SEEN! INVESTIGATE THESE OFFICIALS!" another said.

"In what world is this ruled forward progress……….." another posted on X.

Refs league-wide are awful https://t.co/QHrdrkSjD7
— JL. (@j_lackss) December 14, 2025

"The NFL is the worst officiated league of its caliber in the world. Change my mind," another said.

According to the NFL Rulebook, this is the explanation of the forward progress call: "The forward progress of a runner or airborne receiver is the point at which his advance toward his opponent’s goal ends and is the spot at which the ball is declared dead by rule, irrespective of the runner or receiver being pushed or carried backward by an opponent."

Fans clearly thought it should've been a fumble, and instead of the Bears taking over the Cleveland territory, they got the ball at their own 10-yard line and were not able to score before halftime.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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