The Green Bay Packers are looking to rebound from their 34-31 loss to the Detroit Lions in Week 14’s Thursday Night Football game. It was a contest that dropped the Packers to 9-4 on the season, essentially putting the NFC North crown out of their reach with the Lions improving to 12-1. It was also a game that Green Bay had the opportunity to win. Unfortunately, they were not able to play a clean game and gave Detroit too many chances to win it.
There were, of course, some questionable decisions by the referees on whether to throw or not throw a penalty flag. Many Packers fans feel that had the officiating been better, the Packers still might have won the game. The players themselves will not use the officiating as an excuse, but a recent development in the NFL on Saturday indicates that one particular play fans were angry about should have gone the Packers’ way.
Former Green Bay Packers Edge Rusher Za’Darius Smith Was Fined for a Hit on Jordan Love
There was one particular play in the game where Packers quarterback Jordan Love scrambled to get away from pressure. After releasing the pass, which fell incomplete and brought up a fourth down, Love has hit in the head by former Packers pass rusher Za’Darius Smith.
No flag was called on the play. However, the NFL announced on Saturday that Smith was being fined $6,722 for hitting Love in the head:
The NFL fined #Lions DE Za’Darius Smith $6,722 for roughing the passer (blow to the head/neck) last week.
Smith hit #Packers QB Jordan Love in the head. No flag was thrown.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) December 14, 2024
While fans were happy to see the NFL acknowledge that it was an illegal hit and should have been a penalty, it was too little too late for some:
Not a penalty, but a fine… https://t.co/JxxMbHK5bO
— Wendell Ferreira (@wendellfp) December 14, 2024
Cool. Now next time throw the damn flag!!!! https://t.co/Wk6W2hrOFm
— Aaron ‘BIG D’ Davis (@ChillCheesehead) December 14, 2024
That’s odd…….so this was a foul that the refs completely ignored? https://t.co/5rKpJnrqRi
— Packerfan Total Access- Clayton (@packers_access) December 14, 2024
I would rather they call the damn penalty when it happened https://t.co/pdTZh0Ma5S
— Dadrian🧀 (@KingDay__) December 14, 2024
As mentioned, that no-call penalty brought up a fourth down for Green Bay. Had it been called, the Packers could have advanced the ball and possibly scored.
It may have changed the outcome of the game.
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