EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Referee Jeff Triplette added a bright splash of red blood to his black and white stripes on a rough NFL Sunday that didn’t even spare the officials from the pain.
Triplette was knocked face first into the Giants Stadium turf and had his nose bloodied during Shaun Ellis’ fumble return for a touchdown in the New York Jets’ 31-27 win over the Buffalo Bills.
“I’m good, I’m good,” Triplette said after the game, with both nostrils filled with gauze. “It’s not a broken nose. It’s just bloodied.”
With 1:54 remaining, Abram Elam sacked J.P. Losman from behind and caused a fumble, and Ellis picked up the ball and rumbled into the end zone. During the hectic play, Bills center Duke Preston hit Triplette from behind.
“There’s nothing he could’ve done to prevent that,” Triplette said. “It’s a loose ball, it’s a fumble and it’s just football.”
Haynesworth hobbled.
The Titans might have lost a lot more than a game when defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth was injured near the end of Tennessee’s 13-12 loss to the Texans when his left leg was caught under the pile. He remained on the turf for several minutes while Titans officials looked at him. He finally got up and hobbled off the field.
“Hopefully if he’s not able to go next week we have somebody else who can step in and pick up the slack,” defensive end Jevon Kearse said.
Holt cries foul.
Rams receiver Torry Holt said an official used the video scoreboard to call a penalty, taking away St. Louis’ biggest play of the second half in a loss to the Seahawks.
“He said he looked up in the Jumbo-Tron and saw that I pushed off,” Holt said. “I told him it was a bad call.”
Chiefs honor Roaf.
Willie Roaf, chosen for the Pro Bowl all four years he played left tackle in Kansas City, was honored at halftime.
The Associated Press
