Kansas City Chiefs’ defensive tackle Chris Jones was called for a roughing the passer penalty against Las Vegas Raiders QB Derek Carr on Monday Night. The incident took place in the second quarter of Chiefs vs Raiders game at Arrowhead Stadium.
Watch the play:
The play resulted in the Raiders getting a 14-yard advantage which was enforced on LV 46 yard line. It was deemed a no play and the ball was given back to the Las Vegas team.
Also Read: Kansas City Chiefs’ Travis Kelce receives TD pass vs Las Vegas Raiders: Watch
What is Roughing the Passer penalty?
Roughing the passer is a penalty that occurs when a defensive player makes illegal contact with the quarterback after he has thrown a forward pass.
The penalty is generally 10 or 15 yards, depending upon the play and the offense receives an automatic first down. Defenders may make contact with a player attempting a forward pass while still in possession of the ball (e.g., a quarterback sack); however, once the ball is released, defenders may not make contact with the quarterback unless carried by momentum.
The referee decides whether contact after release was caused by a violation or by momentum on a case-by-case basis.
Current Indianapolis Colts’ QB Matt Ryan has benefitted the most from this penalty as he leads the league with the most Roughing the passer calls against him, with 56.
This call during the Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs Atlanta Falcons in Week 5, played a huge role in deciding the game. Falcons’ DT Grady Jarrett sacked QB Tom Brady in the fourth quarter but the call was overturned resulting in Tampa receiving the ball and that effectively ended the game.
Watch the incident:
Rule summary for the call:
1) Roughing will be called if a pass rusher should have known, in the Referee’s opinion, that the ball had already left the passer’s hand before contact was made.
2) A rushing defender may not intimidate or punish a passer by “stuffing” him into the ground or unnecessarily wrestling or driving him down after the passer has thrown the ball.
3) Referees will be especially alert to fouls in which defenders use the helmet and/or facemask to hit the passer, or use hands, arms, or other parts of the body to hit the passer forcibly in the head or neck area.
4) Even if the initial contact is above the knee, a rushing defender is not allowed to hit a passer who has one or both feet on the ground in the knee area or below.
