NFL Twitter blasts refs for brutal roughing the passer call against Dolphins

The Miami Dolphins were ready to get off the field after a big Jaelen Phillips sack but then the flag came out with a brutal call that sent NFL Twitter mad.

Outside of the wildest Tyreek hill touchdown (or any touchdown for that matter) that NFL fans will ever see, the Miami Dolphins couldn’t get anything going on Sunday Night Football against the Los Angeles Chargers. But the defense was doing its best to keep them in the game.

Trailing 17-7 in the third quarter, they had the Chargers on third down and needed a stop. Pass rusher Jaelan Phillips then broke through the Los Angeles offensive line and got to Herbert with what appeared to be a good, clean sack.

Somehow, that’s not how the men with the whistles saw it.

The refs threw a flag and called roughing the passer against the Dolphins as they alleged Phillips put his body weight on the quarterback. But you can look at the video and be the judge because it definitely looks like a normal sack.

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NFL fans on Twitter truly couldn’t believe that was called roughing the passer as it doesn’t get much more routine of a tackle and sack than that.

It feels like protecting the quarterback has gone just way too far. Whether it’s been the Chiefs in Week 13, the Falcons against Tom Brady and the Bucs, the Ravens a few weeks ago, or another of other instances, refs are throwing flags for the most routine plays imaginable that are not in the true spirit of the roughing the passer rule and the game of football.

Yes, the quarterbacks and all players need to be protected. They also need to play the game. And if Phillips isn’t allowed to do that without giving the Chargers 15 yards and first down, then the rule needs to be changed.