FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — The NFL’s roughing the passer rule struck again Sunday. Only this time, it happened because of a hit a player didn’t make.
On a third-and-goal on the Kansas City Chiefs’ 4-yard line during the fourth quarter of the New England Patriots’ thrilling 43-40 win, Chiefs outside linebacker Breeland Speaks failed to follow through on a near-sack of Tom Brady because he said he was scared to hit Brady after the ball was out, which would have resulted in a penalty.
That hesitation allowed Brady to slip through Speaks’ grasp and dive 4 yards for a touchdown, capping a seven-play, 75-yard drive that gave the Patriots a 37-33 lead with a little over five minutes left in the contest.