For most of Sunday afternoon, the Saints and Buccaneers (-2.5) were locked into a tough, gritty battle at the Superdome. There was a clearly unhappy Tom Brady amidst rampant offensive frustrations. Then, Mike Evans and Marshon Lattimore got heated and fought in the fourth quarter. You know, the usual works of a divisional tilt.
But one call might have shifted this game’s tide into the Buccaneers’ favor. On a late third-and-long throw to Cameron Brate, the tight end would only get nine of a needed 10 yards.
That is before an unnecessary roughness call on Bradley Roby — for apparently making contact with Brate’s helmet on the tackle — extended Tampa Bay’s drive:
Bradley Roby is flagged for this hit on Cameron Brate, giving the Bucs a first down #Saints #GoBucs pic.twitter.com/1evJj4Suzn
— Pro Football Culture (@proftblculture) September 18, 2022
Boy, I don’t know about that one. I understand the league’s mandate to protect offensive players more, but I’m not sure Roby actually makes direct contact with Brate’s helmet aside from brushing it on the play. That, to me, is Roby essentially getting a penalty for missing a tackle.
After Roby’s controversial penalty extended the drive, Buccaneers would cap the possession with a Breshad Perriman touchdown and a 10-3 lead. Tampa Bay followed that by forcing four consecutive turnovers (including three Jameis Winston’s picks!) en route to a 20-10 win.
In other words: Roby’s penalty was quite the potential turning point on one play/call for the Saints.
NFL fans didn't like the unnecessary roughness call on Roby one bit
— Blue Beetle (@bluebeetle02) September 18, 2022
again, garbage call https://t.co/YIYkdejzfj
— m e l a n i e (@melanie_nola) September 18, 2022
— santana (@jorgesvntana) September 18, 2022
How is Roby supposed to tackle him… https://t.co/LmTtzbYipI
— Carl Jones (@Jones11_) September 18, 2022
Death, taxes, Tom Brady getting calls. https://t.co/UuVS7KA2db
— Will Rubin (@WillCRubin) September 18, 2022
Worst penalty call of the year on Bradley Roby
— Rob (@rawbbear) September 18, 2022
Bradley Roby got a roughness penalty for missing a tackle.
— Mookie Alexander (@mookiealexander) September 18, 2022
Horrible call in New Orleans to extend Tampa Bay drive. There was no helmet contact by Bradley Roby.
— ProFootballTalk (@ProFootballTalk) September 18, 2022
That’s a TERRIBLE game-changing call against #Saints DB Bradley Roby.
ABSOLUTELY AWFUL
— Fletcher Mackel (@FletcherWDSU) September 18, 2022
