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The big moment — for more than one reason — in the Kansas City Chiefs’ Monday Night Football win over the Las Vegas Raiders was the roughing the passer penalty heard ’round the NFL.
After the game, Chiefs head coach Andy Reid told reporters that the controversial flag — thrown on Chiefs defensive lineman Chris Jones late in the second quarter with Kansas City down 17-7 — plus the reaction of the fans at Arrowhead Stadiums gave the Chiefs some “juice,” so there was some good that came from the officiating crew’s obvious error.
But there was also the bad. What should have been a strip sack fumble recovery for Jones turned into a 15-yard gain for the Raiders offense. The possession then ended in a Las Vegas field goal.
Jones had a lot to say about the penalty call after the game.
Chris Jones & Derek Carr Laughed About Flag
Jones joked to reporters that he and Raiders quarterback Derek Carr laughed about the flag together after the game. NFL Network reporter James Palmer shared the comment, tweeting: “Chris Jones said he and Carr, who are friends, had a laugh about the roughing the passer call after the game. Jones said Carr told him he has no idea how that was called.”
It’s not a good look for the referees when the passer who was roughed has “no idea” about a call made to protect him.
Of course, Jones also joined his fellow pass rushers in pleading with the NFL for some sort of solution.
Jones Questions Roughing the Passer Rules
“I’m trying my best. I’m 325 pounds, OK. What you want me to do? What you want me to do?” Jones told reporters after the game, his frustration over roughing calls seemingly having reached a new level of exasperation.
Reid said the penalty was called because Jones “put his weight on the quarterback,” but the Chiefs HC added that considering that the sack resulted in change of possession, the final ruling was upsetting.
“We gotta be able to look at roughing the passers in the booth,” Jones appealed to league officials, referencing Grady Jarrett’s Week 5 penalty on Tom Brady. “If we’re able to view it in the booth, and the referees can get a second look because it’s happening so fast, maybe we can change that, ’cause now it’s getting absurd. Now it’s costing teams games.”
Jones was more forgiving toward the referees than the fans, who chanted their disapproval loudly throughout the game. “I get it. It happens so fast,” he acknowledged while advocating for instant replay on roughing the passer decisions.
“Not saying the ref is wrong but I’m just saying that those situations can affect the game tremendously,” he concluded, fearing that a play like this might determine a playoff matchup. “We just got to take initiative as a league and see what we can do better about it.”
NFL Players & Coaches React to Roughing Flag
Twitter was a powder keg after the key penalty decision and many around the NFL community weighed in with reactions. Here were some of the more notable tweets:
The play really struck a chord with Dallas Cowboys linebacker Micah Parsons, who let loose: “The nfl is terrible!!! Change the rules or just make the league 7 on 7!!” He followed up with: “How can we play football with this s***!! Nfl speak up!!!”
Legendary pass rusher Lawrence Taylor also chimed in: “Cmon man!!! You can’t call that…terrible.”
Cornerback Darius Slay called the flag “weak af,” and suspended Chiefs linebacker Willie Gay Jr. complained that “flag football [is] coming soon.”
Longtime New Orleans Saints head coach Sean Payton also gave his two cents. “Awful call @Chiefs @Raiders game,” he criticized. “@NFLOfficiating needs lots of work on roughing the passer!!”
One popular opinion came from former NFL head coach Tony Dungy, who stated: “This is not football anymore. I know we have to protect the QB but Chris Jones was recovering a fumble. We have gotten ridiculous with this.”
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