Week 6 gave NFL fans another fresh round of frustration over roughing-the-passer calls, with penalties against the Chiefs and Packers drawing plenty of side-eye.
The issue has long been a touchy one around the league. Some see the rule as essential protection for quarterbacks.
Others want it tightened up so defenders aren’t punished for routine contact. But on Sunday and into Monday, a pair of flags reignited the debate in a hurry.
Kansas City was first to get caught up in it during the second quarter against the Chargers. Chris Roland-Wallace appeared to come away with what he thought was his first interception of the year when he grabbed a bouncing Justin Herbert pass that had been tipped multiple times. He celebrated the takeaway, only for the play to be erased after officials ruled Ashton Gillotte had roughed Herbert on the throw.
A later look made the call look hard to justify, and the interception never counted.
Then came another flashpoint hours later in Green Bay. Lukas Van Ness was flagged after brushing Dak Prescott on a drop back, and the penalty again had a major impact on the play. Prescott’s pass ended up in Carrington Valentine’s hands for an interception, but the flag wiped out the turnover and gave Dallas a break.
Both calls were loud enough to stir up fans, even if they didn’t end up swinging either game. Kansas City still won and moved to 5-0, while Green Bay also finished on top and improved to 4-2. But the irritation around incidental contact being punished so harshly was impossible to miss.
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