Lamar Jackson was the victim of an extremely late hit while scrambling out of bounds during the first half against the Buffalo Bills, yet despite the seemingly obvious nature of the penalty, officials kept their flags in their pockets.
Bills defensive tackle Ed Oliver wrestled Jackson down, but didn't finish the tackle until Jackson was approaching the bench. Despite how far off the field the Baltimore Ravens quarterback was when he was eventually brought down, refs didn't deem it to be an illegal move from Oliver.
That didn't sit well with Tony Romo and Jim Nantz in the broadcast booth, both of whom seemed to think that a late hit was in order. Rules analyst Gene Steratore suggested that Oliver starting his tackle while on the field was the reason the referees decided against throwing a flag.
"I see Oliver that grabs him right before he's out of bounds... They're allowing him to finish the tackle there, as opposed to a hit that happens or is initiated after he's out of bounds." - Gene Steratore
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) January 20, 2025
"I feel like that was late." - Tony Romo
"I do too." - Jim Nantz #NFL pic.twitter.com/MlD92LefHI
NFL fans weren't happy with the lack of a penalty flag on the hit from Oliver. Many disgruntled fans felt that if Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes was the one running with the ball, flags would certainly have been thrown.
Hip drop tackle all the way in the bench on the probable MVP.. no flag is wild
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) January 20, 2025
THEY’RE REALLY LETTIN ‘EM PLAY AHT THERE
If this was Mahomes the defender would’ve been ejected pic.twitter.com/DsUMA1oZOD
— Savage (@SavageSports_) January 20, 2025
if that was Mahomes 91 woulda been thrown out the game
— 🤺 (@philfanacc) January 20, 2025
Might’ve been an ejection if that was Mahomes
— Cameron Magruder (@ScooterMagruder) January 20, 2025
If that was Mahomes that was hit that late, that'd be another 15 yards on top. Absolute joke
— 🔨💰 (@EVLongshots) January 20, 2025
If that was Mahomes, it would have been two penalties.
— Andrew Brandt (@AndrewBrandt) January 20, 2025
Imagine….if that was Mahomes https://t.co/oLmbCvfFfv
— Taylor Twellman (@TaylorTwellman) January 20, 2025
If that was Mahomes, there would be 5 flags thrown.
— Matt Wise (@TheMattWise) January 20, 2025
It's not even a question.
Ridiculous, @NFLOfficiating.
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This article was originally published on www.si.com as Bills’ Extremely Late Hit on Lamar Jackson Had Fans Making Patrick Mahomes Comparisons.
