Referees Making Already-Bad Jags vs Titans Thursday Night Football Matchup Borderline Unwatchable

As if it weren't tough enough to attract viewers to a mid-week Titans-Jaguars game to kick off the NFL's Week 3 slate.

The Gardner Minshew show has been the only reason to tune into NFL Network's broadcast on Thursday night, not to mention the Titans and Jaguars have notoriously small fanbases. Now, the officials have decided to take over this AFC South matchup, calling 15 penalties in the first half. Yes--that's more penalties than points.

The league's officials are in between a rock and a hard place. The NFL has put new rules in place to cover themselves as it pertains to player safety. While that's working to some extent, it's also made for some truly ugly football games through the first two weeks of the season. That's continued on Thursday night, with some inexcusable calls which don't benefit either team. If anything, they set an unfair standard for all players to live up to.

That was just the beginning. Even other NFL players are chiming in, letting the league know that the product they're watching is unacceptable, and frankly not what they signed up for.

If Tom Brady is mad about a roughing the passer call, you know it's gotten bad.

Never thought I'd say it, but we agree TB12.

There's a competitive balance between player safety and legitimate entertainment. Until the NFL learns to tow that line, expect more complaints, and games just like this.