The Tampa Bay Buccaneers were able to run out the clock on the Atlanta Falcons on the final drive of the game, and their efforts were aided by a roughing-the-passer penalty.
Falcons defensive lineman Grady Jarrett tossed Bucs quarterback Tom Brady for a loss on third down that would have forced Tampa Bay to punt the ball away in the final minutes.
Instead, Jarrett was flagged for roughing the passer, and the Bucs were able to keep the drive alive and eventually bleed out the rest of the clock.
After the game, Brady was asked about the call, and his response is sure to draw plenty of groans from Falcons fans (via The Athletic’s Greg Auman):
Tom Brady, asked about the roughing the passer penalty on final drive: “I don’t throw the flags.” pic.twitter.com/N9jcfvCtGQ
— Greg Auman (@gregauman) October 9, 2022
Here’s the post-game explanation from referee Jerome Boger:
Referee Jerome Boger told pool reporter @gregauman that the roughing the passer penalty on #Falcons DT Grady Jarrett was for “unnecessarily throwing (Tom Brady) to the ground.” pic.twitter.com/rqxyNzjd6I
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) October 9, 2022
Bucs fans were quick to point out that those same officials missed what appeared to be an obvious pass interference call on the Falcons on the previous play, which would have given Tampa Bay a first-and-goal, and eliminated the third-down situation that led to Jarrett’s sack.
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