Cleveland, 10/27/2025 – Amid the ongoing uproar over the Cleveland Browns' 13-32 loss to the New England Patriots in Week 8 of the NFL 2025 season, Browns legend Joe Thomas – the Hall of Fame offensive tackle with 10 Pro Bowl selections – has spoken out harshly against the referees' "rigged calls." 

Thomas, who spent 11 seasons with the Browns before retiring in 2018, admits that the referees' bias helped the Browns avoid an even more humiliating defeat, while calling on the NFL to review its officiating system to ensure fairness.

The game at Gillette Stadium witnessed a series of controversial decisions from the referees, which, according to Thomas, "saved" the Browns from a larger margin of defeat. To illustrate this series of "rigged calls," here's a brief analysis of two prominent situations that went viral on X (Twitter), demonstrating bias in favor of the Browns:

1. Facemask Penalty Called on the Wrong Team: In the second half, during a punt return, the Browns' returner clearly pulled the facemask of a Patriots special teamer, but the referees penalized the Patriots instead, gifting the Browns 15 free yards.

This positioned the Browns better, leading to a subsequent TD drive. The slow-motion replay video clearly shows the error from the Browns' side, but this mistaken decision was accused of being an "awful call" and contributed to allegations of rigging, frustrating Patriots fans over the "free yards" that were unfair.

🚨🚨AWFUL CALL🚨🚨

THE REFS CALLED THIS A FACEMASK PENALTY ON THE #PATRIOTS — DESPITE THE #BROWNS RETURNER CLEARLY PULLING THE PATS PLAYERS' FACEMASK.

😳😳😳

The refs called the penalty on the wrong team - causing Cleveland to get a free new 15 yards.

pic.twitter.com/eHCW9GdjX6 — MLFootball (@MLFootball) October 26, 2025

2. No Penalty for Holding or Pass Interference by the Browns : During the Browns' offensive drives, Cleveland players were allowed to hold or interfere with Patriots defensive backs (DBs) before the ball left QB Dillon Gabriel's hand, but the referees overlooked it, not calling holding or PI.

This helped the Browns complete passes and sustain drives leading to scores, likened to "bad reffing" that was inconsistent, similar to other calls that week. This play was criticized as biased, giving the Browns an undeserved advantage, and contributing to the theme of refs "screwing" other teams.

These situations spread widely on X (Twitter), with slow-motion replay videos from @MLFootball and @csettimi attracting thousands of views, accusing the refs of "bias toward the Browns" and "rigging the game."

Thomas, in an exclusive interview with ESPN, pointed out that this is not an isolated case but a "series of rigged calls" that is tarnishing the NFL. He emphasized: "We've seen too many times where referees intervene in non-transparent ways, and this game is a prime example. We Browns fans are heartbroken, but we must acknowledge the truth to move forward."

Clarifying his stance, Thomas admits that without the "help" from the referees, the Patriots – with QB Drake Maye shining (282 yards, 3 TDs) and a solid defense – would have made the Browns lose even more badly.

He said: "I'm heartbroken that the Browns lost, but honestly, without the refs, the Patriots would've beaten us even worse. It feels like officiating bias has become part of football itself. And yet, even with some calls going against them, the Patriots still stood tall and won fair and square."

This statement quickly went viral, receiving agreement from the NFL fan community, who are calling for the NFL to investigate and improve referee training. Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski also acknowledged that the game had "many puzzling decisions," but declined to comment further.

With a 2-6 record after the loss, the Browns are facing a tough season, and the injury to QB Jameis Winston (replaced by Dillon Gabriel) is making things worse. Thomas called out: "The NFL needs to act to protect the integrity of the game. Rigged calls not only affect outcomes but also erode fans' trust."

The NFL community is awaiting a response from the officiating committee, while fans from both sides continue heated debates on social media. Could this be a turning point for change? Only time will tell.

CEO Robert Kraft with a Warm Gesture Defending Female Patriots Fans After Controversial Incident

Foxborough, Massachusetts – October 28, 2025

After the New England Patriots’ dominant 32–13 victory over the Cleveland Browns at Gillette Stadium, a video circulating on social media sent shockwaves through the NFL community. In the clip, a group of female Patriots fans wearing bikinis were seen dancing and cheering from the stands at the moment their team sealed the win. While many fans viewed this as a “spontanous burst of joy,” it also faced harsh criticism from some spectators who called it “lacking public decorum.”

 

 

Amid public pressure, many awaited a response from the Patriots’ leadership—and team owner Robert Kraft took an unexpected stance: standing up to defend the group of fans.

 

 

“I don’t see anything shameful in it at all. They love the team, they love this victory, and they expressed their genuine emotions. In a world where everything is scrutinized, sometimes we forget that football—ultimately—is about joy, connection, and freedom of spirit,” Kraft said during a brief press conference Monday morning.

His statement quickly spread across social media, garnering thousands of supportive comments. Many Patriots fans wrote: “Thank you Mr. Kraft, finally someone sees things with heart instead of judgment.”

 

 

One of the female fans featured in the video shared on X (Twitter): “We didn’t mean to offend. We were just so happy. When I heard Mr. Kraft speak, I started crying. I felt understood.”

Robert Kraft’s actions went beyond words. According to internal sources, he sent a personal thank-you letter to the group of fans, with the message: “The Patriots are more than just a team—they are a family. And in this family, no one is left behind just for expressing joy.”

 

 

In an era where judgment spreads faster than empathy, Robert Kraft’s message rings out as a simple reminder: sports are not just about winning or losing—but about emotion and humanity.

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