In a 2019 NFL season full of horrific calls, the referees in Sunday’s Carolina Panthers-Green Bay Packers game called arguably one of the worst this season in a critical moment.
Panthers pass rusher Bruce Irvin came clean up the middle on third down and turned quarterback Aaron Rodgers around. That’s when defensive tackle Gerald McCoy came in to finish the play and took Rodgers down, while sliding off Rodgers’ side.
What should have been ruled a clean hit and resulted in a punt, instead, drew a roughing the passer penalty for McCoy using his full body weight to take down Rodgers.
The absurd penalty turned a potential punt that would have led to Carolina having great field position, into an automatic first down for the Packers. Rodgers quickly hit tight end Jimmy Graham for a huge play to flip the field and put the offense in scoring position before halftime.