Instant Replay: MNF Officials Make Questionable ‘Roughing The Passer’ Call
Oct 10, 2022, 8:36 PM
Derek Carr #4 of the Las Vegas Raiders is sacked by Chris Jones #95 of the Kansas City Chiefs during the 2nd quarter of the game at Arrowhead Stadium on October 10, 2022 in Kansas City, Missouri. Jones was called for a penalty for roughing the passer. (Photo by David Eulitt/Getty Images)
(Photo by David Eulitt/Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY – The officials who refereed the Monday Night Football game between the Las Vegas Raiders and Kansas City Chiefs made a questionable roughing the passer call during the first half.
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The Chiefs hosted the Raiders at Arrowhead Stadium on Monday, October 10.
With 1:13 remaining in the second quarter, Kansas City’s Chris Jones got into the backfield and sacked Raiders quarterback Derek Carr. While tackling Carr, Jones stripped the football from the quarterback’s arms and regained possession of the pigskin as he took the Raiders’ signal-caller to the ground.
Officials didn’t award Kansas City possession of the football despite a clear forced fumble and recovery by Jones. Instead, they penalized the Chiefs with a roughing the passer call and the Raiders retained the football and gained 15 yards off of the penalty.
This hit on Derek Carr was called roughing the passer😬
📺: ESPN pic.twitter.com/EN36cYDzlO
— CBS Sports HQ (@CBSSportsHQ) October 11, 2022
Four plays later, the Raiders kicked a field goal to stretch their lead to 20-7.
The call caused the crowd at Arrowhead Stadium to shower boos down onto the field. Social media erupted with takes on the call and whether it was correct or not.
ESPN’s Troy Aikman and Joe Buck, who called the television broadcast of the game, complained about the call and said the NFL should take a look at the issue moving forward.
.@Buck and @TroyAikman give their thoughts on the Chris Jones sack that resulted in a roughing the passer call on #MNF. pic.twitter.com/YHXDxENSov
— ESPN (@espn) October 11, 2022
It was the second criticized penalty in the league in the past two days. A day earlier on Sunday, October 9, Grady Jarett of the Atlanta Falcons was called for roughing the passer on Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady.
Worst roughing the passer call I’ve ever seen on Grady Jarrett#ATLvsTB pic.twitter.com/FZ5yb2hjQg
— Tony Clements (@TonyCMKE) October 9, 2022
The call on Chris Jones comes from the same sentence of the rulebook as the Grady Jarrett call yesterday. But the rule also suggests a player "strive to … brace his fall with his arms" (as Jones appeared to) — and doesn't contemplate the defender having become a ball-carrier. pic.twitter.com/djIV9bLtpj
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) October 11, 2022
Kansas City made a 59-yard field goal as the first half clock expired to make it 20-10 Las Vegas at halftime.
Las Vegas’ game at Kansas City is televised on ESPN and ESPN2.
Kyle Ireland is a Locals in the NFL Insider for sports.ksl.com and co-host of the Yards After College Podcast. Follow him on Twitter (@kyleireland) and Instagram (@kyleirelandksl).
