Harsh the passerby Penalties continue to confuse NFL fans as another controversial call occurred in a Monday night game of the 2024 season. A particularly serious incident occurred during a Monday night game between the New York Jets and the Buffalo Bills. With the Jets facing a crucial third-down play, Bills defensive end AJ Epenesa sacked the Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers.However, a flag was unexpectedly thrown, penalizing Epenesa for roughly attacking the passer.
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The Jets’ scoring drive was extended by the confusing roughing penalty on passers, which caused confusion among NFL fans

In a crucial moment of the game, the New York Jets faced third-and-8 from their own 39-yard line when Aaron Rodgers dropped back for a pass. Buffalo Bills defensive end AJ Epenesa quickly broke through and sacked Rodgers. But to the dismay of Bills fans, a flag was thrown for his rough attack on the passer. The flag appeared to be based on the “body weight rule” the NFL instituted to protect quarterbacks. Still, many wondered how Epenesa could have avoided landing on Rodgers in that situation. The confusion surrounding the call was compounded by the fact that even Rodgers himself expressed sympathy for Epenesa, saying, “That’s a tough call.”

The backlash from fans was swift as many felt the punishment was unjustified. What made the situation even more frustrating was the impact it had on the game. Instead of dealing with fourth-and-8 and potentially giving up the ball, the Jets were awarded a first down due to the penalty. This new opportunity allowed them to drive down the field and score a field goal, tying the game at 20-20 with 6:13 left in the third quarter.

While debates about increasing penalties for passers continue, it is clear that decisions like these will remain a source of frustration for fans and players alike. The incident highlighted the difficulty of consistently enforcing such rules while maintaining the integrity of the game.
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