Arizona Cardinals linebacker Zaven Collins had a sack of quarterback Josh Allen in the second quarter of Arizona’s 34-28 loss to the Buffalo Bills, but it was taken away when he was called for roughing the passer.
The TV broadcasters and Cardinals fans all believed that the call wasn’t good and that there was nothing that warranted him getting penalized.
As it turns out, Collins is vindicated.
On Saturday, the league announced game fines for players as part of gameday accountability. Collins was not fined. Had the play been viewed as a true roughing the passer penalty, he would have been fined $16,883.
The sack would have given the Bills second-and-19 at midfield. Instead, they got a first down from Arizona’s 26-yard line. Three plays later, Allen had a seven-yard rushing touchdown to make the score 17-10.
Had the sack been left alone as it should have been, the Cardinals might have been able to keep the Bills from scoring before halftime. It could have changed the outcome of the game and Collins would have had his first sack of the year.
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