As the Wild Card showdown between the Philadelphia Eagles and the San Francisco 49ers draws closer, the spotlight has shifted off the field and onto the officiating crew.
NFL referee
Alan Eck, who will oversee Sunday’s matchup, has become a talking point after it was revealed that the Eagles are 8–1 in games he has officiated. Eck also grew up in Pennsylvania, a detail that has fueled online debate and frustration from the 49ers’ side.
That frustration boiled over when Deommodore Lenoir took to social media to publicly criticize the league, accusing the NFL of showing favoritism toward Philadelphia.
“How is this even allowed?” Lenoir wrote on X.
“You give the Eagles a referee with deep Philly ties for a playoff game? Everyone sees what this is. If the league wants fairness, change the ref.”
The post quickly gained traction among fans before being
deleted roughly six hours later, but screenshots had already begun circulating across social media.
Lenoir’s comments immediately sparked backlash, especially from Eagles fans who pointed out that referee assignments are handled by the league office and that teams do not select officials. Others noted that Philadelphia’s success under Eck coincides with their strong overall play rather than officiating influence.
Despite the noise, the NFL has made no changes to the officiating crew.
Late in the day, Eagles star wide receiver A.J. Brown appeared to respond to the controversy, delivering a calm but pointed message that resonated strongly with the Philadelphia fanbase.
“We don’t worry about refs,” Brown said.
“If you need excuses before the game even starts, that tells you everything. We focus on execution, not complaints.”
Brown’s response was widely shared by Eagles fans, many praising his leadership and confidence ahead of the playoff clash.
As kickoff approaches, the narrative is now set: one side questioning fairness, the other focused solely on winning. On Sunday, the talking stops — and the result will be decided on the field.
