The Green Bay Packers came out on top against the Pittsburgh Steelers and their former quarterback in a heated Sunday Night Football showdown. Yet the postgame buzz wasn’t about the scoreboard; it was about the officiating. Led by referee Shawn Hochuli, the crew’s calls left fans furious and calling for the NFL to investigate what they’ve dubbed “absolutely awful officiating.”
Questionable Calls In Packers-Steelers Game Spark Fan Outrage Online
Hochuli’s officiating crew entered Sunday night’s game already known for throwing plenty of flags this season, ranking among the top four in penalties called through seven weeks. For much of the game, they stayed true to that reputation. But in the third quarter, the flags seemed to disappear, and several obvious calls were ignored.
On a crucial 3rd-and-8, Aaron Rodgers appeared to draw multiple Packers defenders offside before launching a deep pass to Roman Wilson. Believing he had a free play, Rodgers took a shot downfield, but no flag came. Even after a brief discussion among the officials, the play stood without a penalty.
They missed a defensive offsides and BAD!!!!!! #Steelers pic.twitter.com/E7MqWOYRLV
— Steelers Depot 7⃣ (@Steelersdepot) October 27, 2025
Moments later, the crew missed what looked like a clear shovel pass from Rodgers to Jaylen Warren. The ball hit the turf and was ruled a fumble, leading to a Packers recovery. The call was overturned on review, but by then, frustration had already started to build.
Only the Steelers were penalized for this https://t.co/J4nc80OubF
— Rate the Refs (@Rate_the_Refs) October 27, 2025
The tension grew on special teams when Nate Herbig shoved one of two Packers players closing in on Ben Skowronek during a return. A small scuffle broke out, and somehow only Pittsburgh was penalized. That decision set off fans online, with one viewer posting, “Officiating f**king the Steelers again?” a fan asked.
Officiating fucking the Steelers again? pic.twitter.com/dqKSOLtKTM
— brain zap (@InternetTre_) October 27, 2025
“More cringeworthy officiating in the Steelers Packers game. A clear and obvious offside not called,” a fan wrote.
“Wow that was absolutely awful officiating. That non-free play was so bad the Steelers can call it an asterisk game if they lose,” added another.
With several missed or game-altering calls, especially the one where Packers defenders appeared offsides, frustration boiled over, and some fans even went as far as to suggest an investigation.
“NFL should investigate the referees in the Packers / Steelers game. They have to be on the take,” one post read.
NFL should investigate the referees in the Packers / Steelers game. They have to be on the take.
— Chris Saxman (@ChrisBSaxman) October 27, 2025
“Gotta beat the packers and the refs…unreal,” another fan vented.
Replying to him, a Packers fan wrote, “Yall had a blatant false start not called in the first half, it’s been pretty one sided officiating game towards Steelers favor.”
Hochuli’s crew ended the game with 11 penalties called, keeping them in fourth place among NFL officiating crews with 119 total calls through eight games.
While there were several questionable decisions that hurt the Steelers, the Packers also had a few calls go against them. Ultimately, it appeared to be more about inconsistency and human error than deliberate bias.
The Steelers led at halftime, but Green Bay turned things around in the second half. Jordan Love threw for 360 yards and three touchdowns, leading the comeback and keeping the Packers atop the NFC North. Love now ranks fourth in PFSN’s QB Impact metric, continuing what looks to be MVP form.
