It isn’t always easy to decipher what the NFL wants to do with its roughing the passer rules since the league ratified them a few years ago to make them even touchier (ask Clay Matthews about that), but we’re pretty sure this call on Baltimore pass-rusher Matthew Judon isn’t the way to go.
With 2:19 left in the first quarter of the Monday night matchup between the Browns and the Ravens, Judon looked to break through to harass Baker Mayfield. In truth, it was right guard Wyatt Teller who sort of threw Judon into Mayfield, and Judon didn’t even use his entire body weight when he got the sack. In fact, Judon tried his best to give Mayfield the softest landing possible.
“Roughing” the passer. pic.twitter.com/Udwad9Vs6I
— Bryan Fischer (@BryanDFischer) December 15, 2020
Not a great look from Bill Vinovich and his crew. The penalty moved the ball from the Cleveland 45-yard line to the Baltimore 40, and though the Browns used this artificial momentum to drive down the field, the drive ended with a missed field goal from kicker Cody Parkey.
Perhaps that was karma.