Pass-interference flag on Travis Hunter hands Bengals late win; Dave Portnoy castigates officials

A late pass-interference flag on Jacksonville cornerback Travis Hunter allowed the Cincinnati Bengals to retain possession and convert a fourth-quarter opportunity into a 31-27 victory, drawing sharp criticism from media personality Dave Portnoy.

With 18 seconds remaining Sunday, the Bengals scored the game-winning touchdown after a 25-yard penalty on the Jaguars erased an incompletion and gave Cincinnati a fresh set of downs at Jacksonville’s 42-yard line. The ruling came after Hunter, playing defense on the play, knocked away a pass intended for Bengals receiver Andrei Iosivas while Cincinnati trailed by three.

Backup quarterback Jake Browning, filling in after the Bengals lost starter Joe Burrow to an ankle-related injury earlier in the game, directed the offense on the ensuing drive and threw the touchdown that put Cincinnati ahead. The Bengals improved to 2-0 with the win; the Jaguars fell to 1-1.

Burrow is expected to undergo surgery after suffering what has been reported as a Grade 3 turf-toe injury and is projected to be sidelined for at least three months, the team said.

The penalty and its timing produced an immediate reaction on social media. Portnoy posted a video on X in which he called the call “ridiculous” and “disgusting,” praising Hunter’s play and urging disciplinary action for the officiating crew. “He looks back, deflects the ball away, he’s playing pattycake with his other hand. It’s how you teach it,” Portnoy said in the clip. He also suggested he would boycott if he were a Jaguars fan and called for the referee’s suspension.

Hunter, the Jaguars’ two-way rookie and the second overall pick in April’s NFL draft, addressed the call during his postgame media availability. “I can’t leave it up to the ref; I just have to do my job and put myself in a better position,” he said, according to a Jaguars team release.

Officials marked the play as defensive pass interference, which in the NFL on fourth down gives the offense a new set of downs at the spot of the foul. The enforcement moved the ball into Cincinnati territory and allowed the Bengals to convert the late drive into a touchdown with only seconds left on the clock.

The ruling joins a string of high-profile officiating decisions that have drawn scrutiny from teams, commentators and fans this season. NFL officiating has been the subject of review and debate in recent years, and controversial calls in late-game situations often prompt league review and, in some cases, formal explanations from officiating departments.

Jacksonville head coach and team officials did not immediately announce whether they would file a formal protest. The NFL did not issue a statement on the call in the period immediately following the game.

The Jaguars had gained momentum earlier in the contest behind Hunter’s defensive work; the rookie, who also plays on offense for the team, has been a focal point since the draft. Cincinnati now faces the immediate task of navigating the regular season without Burrow while also building on a 2-0 start.

Portnoy’s comments exemplify the rapid public reaction that often follows tight games decided by contentious officiating. The play will likely be examined further by league officials and analysts in the days ahead as the Jaguars and Bengals move on in their respective schedules.