A roughing-the-passer flag changed the outcome of an NFL game Sunday, and by almost any definition of the penalty, it was an awful call.
Green Bay Packers linebacker Clay Matthews delivered a clean, timely hit on Minnesota Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins as he delivered the ball late in the fourth quarter with the Packers holding a 29-21 lead.
Matthews hit looked clean
Matthews didn’t go high, he didn’t go low, he wasn’t late, he didn’t put his weight on Cousins and he didn’t use his helmet.
No matter. The yellow flag was thrown. Instead of a Jaire Alexander interception that would have all but sealed a Packers win, the Vikings kept the ball and picked up 15 yards on the penalty.