Dave Portnoy was fuming after the Jaguars\u2019 crushing finish Sunday.<\/p>\n
Taking to X after the Bengals escaped with a 31-27 win over Jacksonville, the Barstool Sports founder tore into the refs over their \u201cridiculous\u201d decision to flag two-way Jaguars rookie Travis Hunter on a pass interference call late in the fourth quarter that ultimately swayed the game for Cincinnati.<\/p>\n
\u201cLet\u2019s start by saying this, yes, I bet the Jags, yes, this was fourth-and-5 in the game, you call this pass interference with the game on the line?\u201d Portnoy said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is a ridiculous call, you can\u2019t have refs determining a game,\u201d Portnoy said.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Andrei Iosivas (80) of the Bengals attempts to make a catch against Travis Hunter (12) of the Jaguars on Sept. 14, 2025. Getty Images<\/p>\n
The call in question occurred when Hunter, playing cornerback, knocked away a pass intended for Bengals wide receiver Andrei Iosiva with Cincinnati down by three points.<\/p>\n
The Jaguars were hit with a 25-yard penalty to give the Bengals a fresh set of downs at the Jaguars\u2019 42-yard line.<\/p>\n
The Bengals, guided by backup quarterback Jake Browning, scored the game-winning touchdown with 18 seconds remaining in regulation.<\/p>\n
Dave Portnoy tore into the officiating of the Jaguars-Bengals game in a video shared on X. X<\/p>\n
The Barstool Sports founder, here in August 2025, called it a \u201cridiculous\u201d penalty. Aaron Josefczyk\/UPI\/Shutterstock<\/p>\n
Portnoy lauded the \u201cabsolutely perfect defense\u201d from Hunter, who also plays receiver, and lambasted the officials for the \u201cdisgusting\u201d ruling.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is absolutely insane,\u201d Portnoy said, \u201che looks back, deflects the ball away, he\u2019s playing pattycake with his other hand. It\u2019s how you teach it, this is how you teach it! Absolutely perfect defense from Travis Hunter, you throw a flag on fourth-and-5, this is disgusting, absolutely disgusting football!\u201d<\/p>\n
The Jaguars were hit with a 25-yard penalty following the call against Travis Hunter. Getty Images<\/p>\n
Portnoy then called for the referee\u2019s suspension and said he\u2019d be \u201cboycotting\u201d if he were a Jaguars fan.<\/p>\n
Hunter, the team\u2019s second overall pick in April\u2019s NFL draft, spoke about the controversial moment postgame.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
The Jaguars\u2019 two-way star spoke about the call in a postgame press conference. AP<\/p>\n
\u201cI can\u2019t leave it up to the ref; I just have to do my job and put myself in a better position,\u201d he said<\/a>, according to the Jaguars\u2019 official website.<\/p>\n The loss dropped the Jaguars to 1-1, while the Bengals improved to 2-0.<\/p>\n