Over the past decade or so, the NFL has made a point of it to protect quarterbacks at all costs, with the league knowing that the position is vital to the success of teams in the league and also is almost always the star of the show.
That said, the league has really ramped up its efforts to keep defensive players from laying into quarterbacks on a regular basis, which means roughing-the-passer calls have gone through the roof.
Unfortunately for pass rushers in the NFL, roughing-the-passer calls have been brutally inconsistent, with there being no telling what the penalty is anymore and how to avoid getting called for it on a weekly basis.
On Sunday, during the divisional clash between the Detroit Lions and Minnesota Vikings with the NFC North crown on the line, star quarterback Jared Goff got hit by linebacker Pat Jones II right after releasing the football on a throw.
The call by the referees was suspect, to say the least, as there’s no way Jones could’ve avoided hitting Goff, as can be seen in this video via Dov Kleiman.
This was called Roughing the Passer??pic.twitter.com/bDrlsUJsjo
— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) December 24, 2023
Here are some fan reactions to a questionable roughing the passer call on the Vikings against the Lions:
Making this call on 2nd and 26 is atrocious
— Leighton Glodek (@LGlodek) December 24, 2023
This league is a freaking joke
— Evan Tarracciano (@Roto_Wizard) December 24, 2023
The NFL is cooked😞
— Verse Fantasy (@VerseFantasy_) December 24, 2023
Can’t run through QB after he throws it. Need to pull up not pull through. Clearly a penalty based on rule book
— J Roze (@DetroitRoze) December 24, 2023
With the league emphasizing protecting the quarterback position more and more, these roughing-the-passer calls could get worse and worse moving forward.
Obviously, quarterbacks don’t mind that they get protected like this these days, but at some point, it’ll be extremely difficult to get pressure on quarterbacks, leading to a lot of frustration from defensive players.
NEXT:
Fans React To Justin Jefferson’s Amazing TD Catch Sunday
