NFL Fans Befuddled by Roughing the Passer Penalty That Extended Jets' Scoring Drive

Ryan Phillips | Oct 14, 2024

A.J. Epenesa's sack of Aaron Rodgers was ruled roughing the passer. / Via ESP

Roughing the passer penalties still bring a lot of confusion for NFL fans. They saw a really bad one Monday night that is among the worst of the 2024 season so far.

With the New York Jets facing third-and-8 from their 39-yard line, Aaron Rodgers dropped back and was sacked by Buffalo Bills defensive end A.J. Epenesa. Unfortunately, for the Bills, a flag came in for roughing the passer.

Video of the play is below.

Epenesa is called for roughing the passer pic.twitter.com/V9StNdVXdt

— Mr Matthew CFB (@MrMatthew_CFB) October 15, 2024

This appears to have been a call due to the "body weight" rule the NFL has instituted, but no one could really understand how Epenesa was supposed to avoid landing on Rodgers.

Even Rodgers seemed to sympathize with Epenesa and said "That's a tough call."

A Rod saying tough call, on a penalty created because of an injury he once had is the perfect NFL circle of life pic.twitter.com/yCKA5K9mwg

— John Kuhn (@kuhnj30) October 15, 2024

Fans were not happy about the flag.

That might be the worst roughing the passer call in the history of roughing the passer calls.

— Matthew Bové (@Matt_Bove) October 15, 2024

A.J. Epenesa with his second sack of the night - again on third down - but it's negated by a roughing the passer penalty. This referee crew has been brutal all night. That is some weak sauce.

— Matt Parrino (@MattParrino) October 15, 2024

That might be the worst roughing the passer penalty I’ve ever seen

— Kevin McCaffrey (@KevinMcCaff) October 15, 2024

Unspeakably atrocious roughing the passer call, and I bet the Jets. What are we doing???

— Nick Kostos (@TheKostos) October 15, 2024

If that’s roughing the passer we need to just give QB’s a flag. It’s over.

— Tony Starks 🌚 (@portman7387) October 15, 2024

At this point just put flags around the QBs waist …. That’s a crazy roughing the passer call.

— J Vandy (@JVandy_) October 15, 2024

A.J. Epenesa gets the sack on third quarter but he's called for roughing the passer.

This league has gotten so soft. That's awful.

— Ryan Talbot (@RyanTalbotBills) October 15, 2024

Wow the #Jets are about to get bailed out. They're getting a roughing the passer. They're going to say Epenesa drove him into the ground.

That is a very, very questionable call. It erases a sack on third & 8 that would have led to the #NYJ punt

— Connor Hughes (@Connor_J_Hughes) October 15, 2024

That call had consequences too. Instead of fourth-and-8 deep in their own end, the Jets were awarded a first down. They drove the ball down for a field goal to tie the game 20-20 with 6:13 remaining in the third quarter.

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