Packers strongly disagree with late penalty on Kevin King: ‘It was a bad call’

Both Matt LaFleur and Aaron Rodgers both disagreed with the defensive pass interference penalty on Kevin King late in the NFC title game.

Both quarterback Aaron Rodgers and coach Matt LaFleur expressed disappointment and surprise by the late pass interference penalty called on cornerback Kevin King during a late third down during Sunday’s NFC Championship Game.

In fact, Rodgers didn’t hesitate to call the decision a “bad call” twice when asked post-game.

With just under two minutes to go and the Packers down five points and needing a stop to get the ball back, King was flagged for pass interference on rookie Tyler Johnson on a 3rd-and-4 pass from Tom Brady. The penalty gave the Buccaneers a first down and allowed the visitors to kill the rest of the clock, securing a spot in Super Bowl LV.

Rodgers questioned the consistency of the calls throughout the course of the game and how it was applied to the specific situation, especially considering the pass could have been deemed uncatchable.

“I think it was a bad call. I think there were a few opportunities for some plays down the field for us that wasn’t called. Just surprised that call in that situation was made,” Rodgers said. “Didn’t look like it was even catchable. So, yeah, it was a bad call.”

Replays showed a clear tug of Johnson’s jersey from King on the crossing route, but the contact as the ball sailed well out of Johnson’s reach appeared more incidental than anything.

After the flag was thrown, Rodgers was seen on the sideline pleading with officials.

Like Rodgers, LaFleur also mentioned previous plays in which officials allowed contact down the field without calling penalties, including on Rodgers’ interception late in the first half where it appeared the cornerback was holding Allen Lazard.

“I was pretty surprised just based on how the game went. I felt like there was multiple plays throughout the course of the game, they were letting us play,” LaFleur said. “I haven’t seen a replay, but from what I was told, there was a tug there. Whether the ball was catchable or not, I mean, I think that always goes into it. Bottom line, the official made the call, and that’s what it is. And we have to live with that. There’s no use crying about it now, or complaining about it now, what’s done is done. Gotta move on. But they were letting both sides play all game. There were a lot of things in that game that got me very, very upset.”

Without the penalty, the Packers would have gotten the ball back with around 90 seconds left and a timeout, which would have provided Rodgers an opportunity to drive the field, score a touchdown, win the game and move on to the Super Bowl.

Mike Pereira of FOX Sports agreed with the call, noting the hold before the throw, and he disagreed with the opinion that the ball was uncatchable.

“Good call, tough for the Packers fans and the Packers to take, but the right call,” Pereira said.

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