The NFL has been cracking down on illegal hits during the 2023 NFL season as they’ve handed out several fines and suspensions, and the Buffalo Bills haven’t been exempt from this either.
The Bills defense has been ravaged by injuries over the course of the year, though they’ve rounded into form as of late.
Buffalo has won three out of their last four games, though their most recent win against the Dallas Cowboys is perhaps their most impressive performance.
The Cowboys were the hottest team in the league coming into the matchup, but the Bills were able to dominate them on both sides of the field and pick up a 31-10 win.
Buffalo defenders made life difficult for Dak Prescott who finally came back down to Earth, and they made sure he felt contact anytime he scrambled out of pressure.
Tyrel Dodson got in a good shot on Prescott and the linebacker was later fined for the hit via Tom Pelissero of NFL Network.
“The NFL fined Bills LB Tyrel Dodson $11,167 for this hit on #Cowboys QB Dak Prescott last week,” Pelissero tweeted.
The NFL fined #Bills LB Tyrel Dodson $11,167 for this hit on #Cowboys QB Dak Prescott last week.
Buffalo S Taylor Rapp was fined $21,855 for a separate play.pic.twitter.com/tjwU1fs5fg
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) December 23, 2023
Dodson was called for unnecessary roughness on the play given it was a late hit on Prescott who had already given himself up, so the fine was not unexpected.
Player safety has been an emphasis given the amount of injuries that have occurred in recent seasons, and this is another example of the league trying to protect players like Prescott.
With a game against the Los Angeles Chargers on deck, players like Dodson must be more careful as they would risk a more severe punishment for another offense.
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