Controversial taunting penalty against Eagles stalls fourth-quarter comeback attempt in loss to Buccaneers

[time2rock]

Controversial taunting penalty against Eagles stalls fourth-quarter comeback attempt in loss to Buccaneers

The penalty helped the Buccaneers run out the clock

 

By Bryan DeArdo

 

USA Today

Down 28-7, the Philadelphia Eagles had all the momentum after scoring 15 unanswered points in their Thursday night game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. With 5:54 left and two timeouts still in coach Nick Sirianni's back pocket, it looked as if the Eagles would get a chance to complete the comeback as long as their defense could come up with a third-down stop. 

The Eagles' defense appeared to limit Leonard Fournette to a 2-yard gain on first down. But the officials deemed that defensive end Genard Avery taunted Fournette after he and cornerback Steven Nelson forced him out of bounds. Avery went face to face with Fournette before the two players exchanged light contact with each other as both players came back onto the field of play. The 15-yard penalty moved the ball to the Buccaneers' 42-yard line. Brady then proceeded to complete passes of 10 and 27 yards to Antonio Brown before his sneak produced the game-clinching first down. 

The penalty drew the ire of Eagles fans, as the ones inside Lincoln Financial Field made their feelings known shortly after the flag was thrown. Former quarterback and Fox play-by-play announcer Troy Aikman was also caught off guard by the penalty. 

"I know that's a point of emphasis and everyone's been talking about it, but that's a penalty?" Aikman asked his audience. 

While the penalty didn't help, it wasn't the primary reason why the Eagles fell short of an upset. The Eagles' defense never found an answer for Brown, who finished the night with 93 yards and a touchdown on nine receptions. They also had no answer for Fournette, who tallied 127 total yards and two touchdowns. Philadelphia's offense continued to steer away from running back Miles Sanders, who had just 11 touches. The Eagles also missed a field goal at the start of the fourth quarter. 

The Eagles played gamely against the defending champions, but they ultimately lost and are still in search of their first home win of the 2021 season.

https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/controversial-taunting-penalty-against-eagles-stalls-fourth-quarter-comeback-attempt-in-loss-to-buccaneers/

[Infam]

I fail to see any controversy on that disgusting call. Or did anyone actually think that was a good one?

[time2rock]

26 minutes ago, Infam said:

I fail to see any controversy on that disgusting call. Or did anyone actually think that was a good one?

The NFL couldn't allow a comeback win ... it is a much better story for the Brady-led Buccaneers to come away with a W and put themselves in better position to repeat as NFL champs.  

[Guest]

Eagles were not going to come back.  Once it was 28-7, Bucs were already getting on the plane to go home.

[PoconoDon]

I don't know what he said but apparently it was enough to draw the flag. Make the play, keep your mouth shut, turn and go back for the next play. Pretty simple. Some guys can't do it.

[UK_EaglesFan89]

I think the taunting stuff is ridiculous to be honest. I mean it is an emotional guy with players hitting each other as hard as they can and then they get flagged for that? 

[Outlaw]

7 hours ago, UK_EaglesFan89 said:

I think the taunting stuff is ridiculous to be honest. I mean it is an emotional guy with players hitting each other as hard as they can and then they get flagged for that? 

Completely agreed. Like the rest of America, the NFL is going SAWFT. 

[UK_EaglesFan89]

3 hours ago, Outlaw said:

Completely agreed. Like the rest of America, the NFL is going SAWFT. 

Like the rest of the world unfortunately bud. Or at least the western world with the woke brigade. 

[time2rock]

18 hours ago, UK_EaglesFan89 said:

I think the taunting stuff is ridiculous to be honest. I mean it is an emotional guy with players hitting each other as hard as they can and then they get flagged for that? 

Next they'll not only be getting flagged for taunting but they'll also have to go sit in the corner for 30 minutes.  

[UK_EaglesFan89]

4 hours ago, time2rock said:

Next they'll not only be getting flagged for taunting but they'll also have to go sit in the corner for 30 minutes.  

I mean it is ridiculous. I get that what Avery did was, by the rule book, a flag but it is ridiculous. Let the players get on with it or introduce a card system like in soccer. Don't punish the entire team for one action. 

[EagleJoe8]

As I said at the time and the day after, hate the rule for sure. It's another example of how the game and the world are going soft, but I can't fault the call. Avery needs situational awareness. The fact is, they've been calling it around the league, and Avery needs to know that.

[time2rock]

1 hour ago, EagleJoe8 said:

As I said at the time and the day after, hate the rule for sure. It's another example of how the game and the world are going soft, but I can't fault the call. Avery needs situational awareness. The fact is, they've been calling it around the league, and Avery needs to know that.

Agreed on both accounts ... the game is getting soft but every player needs to be aware that they are calling these and to do what they can to avoid them.  I swear some of these roughing the passer calls are incredibly lame.  Not contact to helmet and barely get touched just after throwing the ball and they call it.  

[Portyansky]

Dumbest penalty of the game. All players yap at each other after a play. It's different if he "disrespected" him. With that said. Wtf was Avery happy about? Doing your job? You're down in the game. It was 1st and 10 and he gained 2yds and TB was moving the ball at will pretty much all game and dropped down into 3rd gear during that time.