NFL: Replay Errors Peak at 1 PM Games, Solutions Sought

0:00On February 26, Denver Broncos head coach Sean Payton got a surprise at the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine. He learned that most replay errors from last season happened in 1 p.m. Eastern Time Sunday Games. Payton, who serves on the Lee's Competition Committee, admitted he did not expect that at all. Troy Vincent, the NFL's Executive Vice President of Football Operations, shared the data during the event. Out of 171 replay reviews in the 2025 regular season, officials flagged five, they wished they could redo. Four of those mistakes came in that early afternoon slot, likely due to the high volume of games. Coaches on the Committee reacted quickly to the news. Payton joked that he prefers playing in later windows, like those in Denver, to avoid replay shortages. New England Patriots head coach Mike Verabel called for better staffing across all games, stressing that every matchup deserves equal attention, from prime time to early slots. San Francisco 49ers General Manager John Lynch added another angle from his broadcasting

1:04days. He noted that 1 p.m. games often lacked the camera coverage of evening broadcasts. The committee is now talking about adding fixed stadium cameras to give replay officials consistent views no matter the game time. League leaders hope these tweaks will cut down on errors and keep officiating fair for fans everywhere.