Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel voiced disbelief after a disputed roughing the passer call in his team’s 23-17 loss to the Chargers on “Sunday Night Football,” much like many on the internet.
In the second half, with the Chargers leading 17-7 at the break, Dolphins linebacker Jaelan Phillips sacked Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert on third down. Officials penalized Phillips’ tackle, giving the Chargers a new set of downs.
Moments afterwards, cameras switched to McDaniel, who could not help but giggle at the verdict, which was described as “absurd” and “horrible.”
Sunday Night Football on Twitter
On December 11, 2022, Dolphins linebacker Jaelan Phillips tackles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert.
Sunday Night Football on Twitter
“Absurd passer-by harassment. “Absurd,” tweeted Cardinals defensive end J.J. Watt.
Even Hall of Famer Shannon Sharpe disapproved of the call.
“This is the HORSE call. Sharpe exclaimed, “Just HORRIBLE!” while Pat McAfee observed, “Man… football looks different these days, doesn’t it?”
The controversial call on Sunday is the latest in a season replete with questionable penalties. In October, the NFL community was angered by two calls within days of one another, beginning with a Week 5 game between the Buccaneers and Falcons.
When Falcons defensive tackle Grady Jarrett threw Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady to the ground for what could have been a 10-yard loss, referee Jerome Boger penalised Jarrett for unnecessary roughness.
Hours after the Buccaneers’ contentious victory, Chiefs defensive tackle Chris Jones was penalized when he came from behind to tackle Raiders quarterback Derek Carr and cause a turnover during an AFC West matchup. The play could have provided the Chiefs an advantageous field position, but instead the Raiders held possession.
The NFL may have tweaked the roughing the passer rule for the 2022 season, stating that a defender must not “land on top of him [a passer] with all or most of the defender’s weight,” but after the slew of controversial penalties this season, the league’s brain trust may have to go back to the drawing board.
»Mike McDaniel calls the roughing the passer call in the Dolphins’ loss “absurd.”«