Tag: Penalties

Fans, media react to Nick Bosa’s assertion that Chiefs tackles ‘hold a lot’

Users on Twitter were less than pleased with #49ers defensive lineman Nick Bosa’s take on the #Chiefs’ tackles ahead of Super Bowl LVIII.

The Kansas City Chiefs are set to face the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl LVIII on February 11. More than a week away from the game, one 49er couldn’t help but take a jab at the Chiefs’ offensive line.

Star defensive end Nick Bosa told reporters this week that his time in the film room studying Kansas City’s offense yielded one observation.

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“They [the Chiefs’ offensive line] hold a lot,” Bosa said during comments to the media.

While the comment may have been innocuous in a vacuum, many users on social media seemed to think that Bosa’s assertion was a way of priming fans for a discourse about the NFL’s referees if the game’s final score wasn’t favorable for San Francisco.

The Chiefs have been the object of speculation about a perceived advantage when officials make crucial calls on penalties, and Bosa’s quote added fuel to the fire ahead of Super Bowl LVIII.

Check out some of Twitter’s best reactions to Bosa’s comment:

These 9 players led penalty-prone Cowboys in flags in 2023

From @ToddBrock24f7: The Cowboys were near the top of the NFL again in penalties. Tyler Smith and Sam Williams were among those who cost the team the most.

Penalties are a part of the game of football, but they seem to impact some teams far more than others. Over recent years, the Cowboys have built a reputation as a penalty-prone franchise with a knack for not just shooting themselves in the foot but emptying the clip into their size 12s, reloading, and then continuing to obliterate everything below the knee.

The trend held true for 2023. Dallas ended the regular season with 115 penalties enforced against them, the second-highest total in the league. For contrast, consider that the Raiders, long thought by many to traditionally be the dirtiest team in the sport, finished 40 penalties behind the Cowboys.

Add in another half-dozen infractions in their wild-card loss to Green Bay, and Dallas surrendered a whopping 1,012 yards- more than 10 full lengths of the field– to their opponents, the most in the league by far.

Offensively, penalties are momentum killers. Defensively, they’re drive extenders for the other guys. Aside from the occasional delay of game taken for strategic reasons, they’re almost always bad.

But what’s especially frustrating for Cowboys coaches and fans alike is when it’s the same infractions over and over. For example, Dallas was the worst team in football when it comes to defensive offside, drawing that (extremely preventable) flag a staggering 18 times in 18 games. Offensive holding? The Cowboys took 26 of those flags, also the most in the league. Defensive holding? Second only to Atlanta. Face mask? Trailing only Baltimore. Just seven teams were hit with too many men on the field multiple times; of course one of them was the Cowboys.

Equally maddening is when the team seemingly forces officials to dig into the rule book to find obscure or rarely-called penalties. Dallas was one of just four teams called for a leverage foul, one of four teams flagged for roughing the kicker, one of five teams docked for running into the kicker, one of half a dozen squads nailed for illegal motion, and the only NFL team all season to be called for clipping.

Just as some teams have a penalty reputation, certain players seem to hear their number called by the ref way more often than others. Here’s a breakdown of the Cowboys’ most penalized players- and who cost them the most- over the 18 games that made up the 2023 season and postseason.

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Packers lead NFL with 20 special teams penalties in 2023

No team has committed more penalties on special teams this season than the Packers.

No team in the NFL has committed more penalties on special teams this season than the Green Bay Packers.

Entering Week 15, the Packers have 20 penalties on special teams, including two declined penalties. The team’s 163 yards of penalties on special teams also lead the NFL.

Per PFF, 13 different players have committed a penalty for Rich Bisaccia’s special teams, including four accepted penalties each by Kingsley Enagbare and Dallin Leavitt. Enagbare and Leavitt (who is no longer on the roster) are two of just five players with an NFL-high four penalties on special teams in 2023.

Of the 20 penalties, nine have been holding penalties. Five other penalties have been of the 15-yard variety.

Monday night’s loss to the New York Giants represented the sixth game this season that the Packers have committed multiple penalties on special teams.

Bisaccia said one of the penalties — an illegal blindside block on rookie Anthony Johnson Jr. — was a poor call.

“The first one on Anthony Johnson was not a penalty,” Bisaccia said Thursday.

Bisaccia said Johnson wasn’t facing the end zone and should not have been called for an illegal block. However, Rudy Ford’s penalty was legitimate.

In the first quarter, Ford ran into the returner and was flagged for kick catch interference, a 15-yard penalty.

Penalties have played a big part in another disappointing season for the special teams. The Packers rank 19th in PFF’s special teams grade and 28th in DVOA entering Week 15.

Last season, the Packers finished with exactly 20 penalties on special teams, which ranked as the third-most. The NFL-high in 2022 was 23 special teams penalties (Carolina Panthers). The Packers lead the NFL in special teams penalties and penalty yards since Bisaccia arrived in 2022.

Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes believes penalty should’ve been called on Hail Mary vs. Packers

Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes believes a penalty should’ve been called on hail mary vs. Packers

The Kansas City Chiefs fell short last Sunday against the Green Bay Packers with plenty of controversy at the night’s end. The penalties that weren’t called on multiple offensive possessions are still too obvious to ignore days later.

Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes has usually kept a short memory after a loss as the focus is to prepare for the next team during practice. During his Wednesday press conference, the reigning league Most Valuable Player addressed his feelings on the controversial no-penalty call on his Hail Mary attempt to tight end Travis Kelce.

“Yeah, it’s tough because there’s so many guys that are all in the same area,” Mahomes said. “We talked about [it], and we say, they’re not gonna throw flags, they’re gonna let the guys go out there and play. The one on Trav (was) a little aggressive because the guy [fully] pushed him out of the way. That’s the kind of guy that we want to be in the middle of going up and get the ball. So at some point, there’s got to be a flag, but at the same time, we tell the guys they’re not gonna throw a lot of flags in that situation.”

The Chiefs are moving forward from last Sunday night’s defeat and are focusing on the battle with the Buffalo Bills this Sunday. The sour taste of the loss will be extra motivation at home in front of the many fans of Chiefs Kingdom at Arrowhead Stadium.

Twitter reacts to overzealous officiating in Seahawks-Cowboys game

Naturally, fans who were watching were extremely put off by all the flags.

The NFL had a real shot at their first entertaining Thursday Night Football game in history last night. The Seahawks and the Cowboys got into a thrilling shootout, with Geno Smith and Dak Prescott exchanging big plays from the first whistle to the last.

Unfortunately, referee Clete Blakeman and his crew were in rare form, throwing a total of 19 flags against both teams and totaling 257 yards in penalties. That ruined the flow of the game, which devolved into a totally defense-less affair. DBs on both sides got the worst of it, as they were not allowed to so much as touch an opposing receiver without getting called for pass interference.

Naturally, fans who were watching were extremely put off by all the flags. Here’s what they had to say about it on Twitter.

Chiefs HC Andy Reid praised WR Justin Watson’s fiery response to big hit vs. Raiders

#Chiefs HC Andy Reid praised WR Justin Watson’s fiery response to taking a big hit vs. #Raiders

The Kansas City Chiefs’ victory on Sunday against the Las Vegas Raiders featured various players making significant plays. The team’s toughness, especially on offense, has been criticized recently, and the unit bounced back tremendously, overwhelming Las Vegas.

Chiefs head coach Andy Reid took note of the team’s resilience after a touchdown catch from wide receiver Justin Watson. Watson sustained a big hit at the beginning of his route from Raiders linebacker Robert Spillane but bounced back up to complete the touchdown. Reid spoke about Watson being flagged for unsportsmanlike conduct after getting in Spillane’s face after the play during Monday’s Zoom press conference.

“Listen, let me explain. He hit him pretty good. I knocked him off his feet. Just the fact that he bumped up the way he bounced up was amazing. And then to make the catch,” said Reid. “I love to see the fire [in] the guys. I can’t stand the penalties right now, but the fire, I can see why he did what he did. I mean, that was a pretty, pretty rough hit that he took there.”

Watson barely missed much time after suffering an elbow injury earlier in the season and has now two consecutive weeks of touchdown receptions in the red zone.

“So, but he’s a tough kid, man. A tough kid. And for him to bounce up like he did. And then the score.” said Reid, “I mean, he didn’t flinch and lick on that. Though. I’m good, but I’m not good.”

The Chiefs are still committing too many penalties, with their starting right tackle, Jawaan Taylor, leading all players with fourteen this season.

Lions opponents among the least penalized in the league

Statistical proof that officials don’t throw flags against the teams the Lions are playing

Nary a Detroit Lions game goes by where the fans don’t have some serious issues with the officiating. From Aidan Hutchinson being endemically held to delay-of-game not being enforced to questionable pass interference calls that always seem to go against Detroit, railing against officiating is one of the most unifying aspects of being a Lions fan.

It’s especially poignant with the Green Bay Packers coming to town for Thanksgiving. Officiating has left its mark on many a Lions-Packers contest, and it’s typically tread marks on the back of Detroit.

The officiating statistics back up the claim that the Lions do not get the officiating calls. Through Week 11, teams playing against the Lions have the second-fewest penalties of any NFL foe. Lions opponents have been flagged just 49 times for 428 yards. Only the Chicago Bears (47) have seen fewer flags on their opponents than Detroit (the Chiefs foes also have 49).

Detroit is tied for seventh in net penalty yardage, with the Lions being assessed 99 more penalty yards than their foes. The Lions have been flagged for 55 enforced penalties, a -6 margin.

It might surprise Lions fans to know the Packers have been flagged for more penalties (72) and have the third-worst net penalty count (-13). However, the Packers have a positive net penalty yardage of 24 despite committing 13 more penalties than their opponents.

4 Saints defenders fined for a combined $44,000 after Vikings game

Four New Orleans Saints defenders were fined for a combined $44,000 after last week’s Minnesota Vikings game:

Four New Orleans Saints defenders were fined more than $44,000 after last week’s Minnesota Vikings game, the NFL announced, stemming from penalties issued during the Week 11 matchup.

Here’s who received fines from the league office in New York:

Chiefs DB Coach Dave Merritt reveals plan for CB L’Jarius Sneed to avoid penalties

Kansas City #Chiefs defensive back Coach Dave Merritt reveals plan for corner back L’Jarius Sneed to avoid penalties.

The defense has taken center stage this season for the Kansas City Chiefs through their first nine games. The unit has shown grit and resilience through critical moments and clinched victories as the team heads into Week 11 with a 7-2 record.

Chiefs defensive back coach Dave Merritt has worked closely with the secondary and the team’s top cornerback, L’Jarius Sneed. The veteran defensive back is usually charged with covering the top receiver on opposing teams but has struggled with committing penalties. During Friday’s press conference, Merritt discussed the team’s plan to help alleviate the penalized plays for Sneed moving forward.

“Yeah, I think the first thing for L.J. (L’Jarius Sneed) is at the line of scrimmage; nothing is going to change other than lowering his target,” Merritt explained. “He may have had one that was called hands to the face, but the majority of his penalties are going downfield when he’s in phase. And so with that being said, not to get too technical, what LJ is going to have to do and what we’ve been working on and even started working on last week, and hopefully start clicking in is once he’s in phase running down the field with a wide receiver.

“He has to know right now that at that point in time, as you’re reading your keys when that wide receiver sinks his hip, you have to make sure that you just pump the arms. But what he’s doing is grabbing, he’s reaching, trying to just hold on almost like a little kid with due to a mommy or daddy when they’re trying to run away from him.”

Sneed has been flagged 12 times this season for holding and pass interference. Merritt and the coaching staff believe he can still get past the infractions and turn it around in the second half of the year.

“He’s like grabbing. And so he’s just got to trust that my ability is good enough to run the route with him,” said Merritt, “And so, that’s one of the things we’re working on. But the majority of them, again, are happening once he gets in phase downfield. So that’s what we’re working on.”

The Chiefs secondary will have to deal with several weapons from the Philadelphia Eagles this Monday in the much-anticipated Super Bowl rematch.

Penalty-free football helped the Saints take care of business against the Bears

Penalty-free football helped the Saints take care of business against the Bears. Everything didn’t go according to plan, but they didn’t hurt themselves with fouls:

Penalty-free football helped the New Orleans Saints take care of business against the Chicago Bears on Sunday. That’s not to say everything went according to plan, but they didn’t hurt themselves with fouls while giving free yardage to the opposing squad.

That’s progress. The Saints went into Week 9 with a league-leading 513 penalty yards, but they ended the afternoon with a single foul, yielding 5 yards for a false start on tight end Juwan Johnson. The Bears were penalized 8 times for 71 yards by referee Ron Torbert and his officiating crew.

And things look even better when you widen the lens. The Saints have been penalized 12 times in their last three games, but eight of those infractions came last week against the Indianapolis Colts. And half of those penalties were for false starts on Johnson, center Erik McCoy, left tackle Andrus Peat, and left guard Max Garcia. That game’s referee crew, led by Craig Wrolstad, has thrown more penalty flags for false starts (15) than any other foul this season.

Hopefully this can start a positive trend for New Orleans. Playing games with fewer penalties leads to more efficient drives, more first down conversions, and more scoring — all things that are conducive to winning the day. Playing smarter and keeping hands clean is going to help this team get where they want to go.

One player in particular deserves some credit for cutting down on his penalties. Cornerback Paulson Adebo was fouled early and often this season, drawing four penalties for defensive pass interference and two flags for defensive holding in his first four games. But he hasn’t been fouled in either of the last two games while making a positive impact with multiple turnovers in recent weeks. If Adebo can avoid those penalties moving forward while continuing to take the ball away and hold up in coverage, the Saints secondary suddenly looks even more formidable. Sunday’s win over the Bears is the next step towards that goal.

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