NFL fans have threatened to boycott games over growing frustration with refereeing decisions, with Tom Brady among those criticizing officials after a series of controversial calls during the Detroit Lions' win over the Green Bay Packers.

Brady first voiced his frustration in the fourth quarter when Lions linebacker Derrick Barnes was penalized for unnecessary roughness after hitting Packers running back MarShawn Lloyd just after a pass slipped through his hands.

The call awarded Green Bay an automatic first down, helping the Packers extend a drive that ended with a game-tying field goal. “Oh come on, man,” Brady said as the penalty was announced. He explained why he thought it was wrong. “Love throws it over the middle. There are linebackers in the middle.

"He’s just turning his right shoulder away from it. That’s allowed 99 out of 100. It’s a bang-bang play. I know in super slow-mo, every little minute frame looks like a lot, but when you’re on the field, you’ve got to pursue that ball.”

Brady was even more critical of the penalty that helped set up Detroit's winning kick. With the game tied in the closing minutes, Jared Goff completed an 18-yard pass to Sam LaPorta before Packers defensive tackle Karl Brooks was flagged for roughing the passer for hitting the quarterback just after he released the ball. The penalty moved the Lions to Green Bay's 40-yard line.

“No, my goodness, what is that? There’s no way,” Brady said. “Brooks on the tackle kind of makes a great play. It’s a bang-bang play. He rolls off his body. It’s a great throw by Goff. That’s definitely not roughing the passer.”

The controversial calls have sparked wider frustration among NFL fans, with some threatening to stop watching games over what they see as inconsistent officiating. “The NFL is going to start losing viewers,” one fan wrote on X.

“I only watched maybe 20 minutes of NFL football this weekend. It’s sad,” another user said.

“START! I stopped watching 5 years ago. It’s unwatchable for anyone with an IQ of over 75,” a third fan said.

While a fourth fan added: “Pretty soon they’re going to make it mandatory for every viewer to place a bet on the games in order to watch. The league has turned into gambling-centric side show."

Flags have become a growing problem in the NFL during the 2026 season, with statistics suggesting the number of penalties is reaching historic levels. The trend is not just a matter of perception, with the figures backing up concerns about the frequency of officiating calls.

Through the first four weeks of the season, the NFL recorded its highest number of penalties over a comparable stretch in a decade. The league also saw a record number of red-zone penalties, alongside the most penalties on third and fourth downs in the second half of games in NFL history.