NFL Suspends Referee Shawn Hochuli After Controversial Decision in Bills–Patriots Game

Buffalo, NY – October 6, 2025

The NFL has officially taken disciplinary action following Sunday night’s officiating controversy, suspending referee Shawn Hochuli and his crew for three games after a series of critical mistakes in the

Buffalo Bills’ 20–23 loss to the New England Patriots.

According to the league’s internal review, the decision stems from two major fourth-quarter errors that altered the flow and momentum of the game. The first came when

Patriots linebacker Hunter Farmer delivered a clear late hit on Bills running back James Cook after he was already down by contact. Despite video review confirming the infraction, no penalty was issued

. Moments later, the same crew penalized Buffalo’s defense for a “late hit” on rookie quarterback Drake Maye, even though Maye was already sliding into contact. The call extended New England’s final drive and set up the game-winning field goal.

In a formal statement, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell addressed the situation directly, emphasizing the league’s commitment to accountability and integrity. “Officiating defines competitive integrity,” Goodell said.

“When errors impact the outcome of a game, accountability must follow. Fans deserve confidence that every result is earned on the field — and we will ensure that happens.”

James Cook takes a hard hit after he was down from the rookie Farmer

pic.twitter.com/jr0s3pcJ6I — Rate the Refs (@Rate_the_Refs) October 6, 2025

The league classified both missed calls as “critical officiating errors”, the highest severity level in its evaluation system. As part of the disciplinary process, Hochuli’s crew will be

removed from postseason consideration and required to undergo additional review and retraining before returning to full-time duties.

This marks one of the strongest actions the NFL has taken against an officiating crew in recent years. League officials described the move as a “necessary response to preserve public trust,” reinforcing that high-pressure games require the highest level of precision and consistency.

Across social media, Bills fans and analysts continued to voice frustration using hashtags like #BillsGotRobbed and #HoldRefsAccountable, while several former referees agreed that Hochuli’s crew “lost situational control” and failed to maintain consistent judgment during critical moments.

For the Bills, the frustration runs deeper than the loss itself — it’s about confidence in the system that governs the game. The NFL’s swift response aims to restore that balance, sending a message that mistakes of this magnitude will not go unchecked.

The league’s stance is now clear: every call matters — and so does accountability.

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