The New York Jets were the victims of an incorrect penalty call in Dallas
After many believed the referees whiffed on the call during the game, the NFL has officially announced that a crucial penalty in the New York Jets’ loss to the Dallas Cowboys should not have been called.
According to the NFL, John Franklin-Myers’ roughing the passer on Dak Prescott was a legal hit and should not have been called a penalty.
The NFL told the Jets that the roughing the passer penalty on John Franklin-Myers on Sunday should not have been called, according to a source. It was a legal hit.
— Brian Costello (@BrianCoz) September 20, 2023
Just not sure what the NFL wants JFM to do in this situation. He dominates his man and as a result of that is falling forward (holding call missed? looks like he's getting dragged down), so there's no way he can adjust himself to hit the QB up high.
Is he supposed to stop… pic.twitter.com/CSMnT3nFVj
— Michael Nania (@Michael_Nania) September 18, 2023
The penalty, which occurred on a critical third down before halftime, would have possibly swung the game if it was called correctly. On the play, Prescott threw an incomplete pass to bring up fourth-and-7 with 2:47 remaining in the half. Dallas likely would have attempted a 29-yard field goal from New York’s 11-yard line, which, if made, would have put the Cowboys up 13-7. The Jets would get the ball back with plenty of time remaining.
Instead, Dallas received a new set of downs, and they eventually scored a touchdown (with a two-point conversion) to take an 18-7 lead.
Additionally, the Cowboys were able to take valuable time off the clock. New York got the football back with only 1:52 left and ended up settling for a field goal with seven seconds left. The Jets were forced to spike the ball two plays prior to the field goal, wasting a play that they would not have needed to if there were more time on the clock.
Unfortunately, the retroactive announcement does nothing to change the fact that the referees made a horrible in-game decision. Franklin-Myers had no natural way to stop himself from hitting Prescott, and the hit itself was also legal.
Jets head coach Robert Saleh discussed his frustration with the penalty, saying, “I don’t know how to coach it any differently.” Saleh had a call with the league for clarification on the penalty.
Saleh says he has a call w league this afternoon for clarification on JFM roughing the passer penalty vs. Cowboys. "I don' t know how to coach it any differently," Saleh said. "Everything about it was legal"
— Andy Vasquez (@andy_vasquez) September 20, 2023
This is only the latest missed call that negatively affected the Jets. Whether on defense or offense, it seems that the Jets never get the benefit of the doubt when it comes to officials. In fact, the Jets have not been on the benefiting end of a roughing the passer call since Week 15 of the 2021 season.
One could argue that this is due to the team’s lack of success over the years. Even with their improvements, the Jets still have yet to earn respect from the league as a whole. Regardless, it doesn’t excuse a blatantly missed call.
In Sunday’s matchup against New England, it would not be a surprise to see the Jets have more calls not go their way. Even if that is the case, it is not an excuse for the Jets to lose the game, just as it wasn’t against Dallas. They will have to find a way to overcome whatever adversity is thrown at them, as it is only through winning games that the Jets will gain the respect that may help a few more calls go their way.
