Trailing 17-7 late in the first half against the Las Vegas Raiders, it appeared as though the Kansas City Chiefs got a huge play when Chris Jones not only sacked Derek Carr on a third down but took the ball from him. The referees had other ideas.
Instead of getting the ball in Raiders territory, Jones and the Chiefs were called for a roughing the passer penalty.
The ruling was that Jones landed all of his body weight on Carr. It was controversial, to say the least.
Roughing the passer? 🏈 #MNF pic.twitter.com/y4AR9G3MVe
— The Comeback (@thecomeback) October 11, 2022
Before the season started, there was a directive from the NFL to ease off of the roughing the passer penalties. That notion has certainly been abandoned in Week 5. On Sunday, Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers benefited from a roughing the passer penalty called against Grady Jarrett and the Atlanta Falcons. The penalty in Monday’s game drew a similar reaction.
Of course, there was some defense, not so much of the rule itself but its application.
Landed with full body weight on him. The rule says you can’t do that. It’s a dumb and stupid rule, but that’s what it says. https://t.co/0Zo2WL4a4i
— Anthony D'Agostino (@ADagostinoTV) October 11, 2022
By and large, though, the reaction to Monday’s controversial penalty was negative.
That call is ridiculous. What else is Chris Jones supposed to do to get the quarterback down to the ground? Send him a letter?
— David Aldridge (@davidaldridgedc) October 11, 2022
What the hell is Chris Jones supposed to do there?
— Ty Schmit (@tyschmit) October 11, 2022
The NFL tries sooo hard to make it unlikeable.
Chris Jones literally did everything in his power to get off of Carr as soon as he had the football – also didn’t land with his full weight whatsoever.
Such a joke.
— Carter Donnick (@CDonnick1) October 11, 2022
Chris Jones only landed on Carr because he was recovering the fumble. That's an INCREDIBLE play by Chris Jones!
— Steve Palazzolo (@PFF_Steve) October 11, 2022
The overreaction by the NFL to getting it wrong on Tua has been stark.
— Andrew Brandt (@AndrewBrandt) October 11, 2022
The roughing the passer calls are getting are getting ridiculous…
Chris Jones released his arms and tried his best
— Bobby Carpenter (@Bcarp3) October 11, 2022
Chris Jones just became the first player in NFL history called for roughing the passer while holding the ball.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) October 11, 2022
Refs: “Roughing the passer” pic.twitter.com/Ouf9VvfahD
— PFF (@PFF) October 11, 2022
The exchange was a big one. Instead of Kansas City getting a first down in Las Vegas territory, the Raiders got a first down across midfield. That led to a Daniel Carlson field goal. The Chiefs did get those three points back when Matthew Wright nailed a 59-yarder as time expired.
Still, with the turnover, Kansas City would have likely gone to halftime down either three or seven points and getting the ball back to start the second half. Instead, the Chiefs had to fight to get the halftime deficit back to only 10 points.
[Photo Credit: ESPN]
