Giants coach Pat Shurmur keeps striking out on challenges

All season it has seemed that New York Giants coach Pat Shurmur has been holding in a tirade about NFL officiating. A number of times he has told reporters “hold that thought” because he would give his feelings on officiating, particularly replay, eventually.

After going 0 for 2 on challenges in Thursday’s 35-14 loss to the New England Patriots, Shurmur was still not ready to let his feelings loose.

“I’m not going to go into any of that,” Shurmur said when asked about his failed first-quarter challenge. “I’m done talking about that kind of stuff.”

In that first quarter, Shurmur challenged when Giants defensive back Michael Thomas knocked a ball out of the hands of Julian Edelman. Thomas scooped up the ball for what the Giants hoped, and thought, would be a fumble recovery in New England territory with the game still scoreless. Instead, the play was ruled an incomplete pass on the field — a ruling upheld by replay.

Looking for a defensive pass interference call, Shurmur challenged on an incomplete pass to Golden Tate late in the game. As replay has done consistently all season, the call on the field was upheld despite an obvious grab by a New England defender.

“I thought we had a solid chance to get it, but we see that replay doesn’t overturn much,” Shurmur said. “So, I’m not surprised.”

Shurmur is now 0 for 4 on challenges this season and just 2 for 7 in 22 games as Giants coach.