Lions defensive end Za’Darius Smith got away with an illegal hit on Packers quarterback Jordan Love last Thursday because the officials missed it. But the NFL’s disciplinary office saw it.
The league has fined Smith $6,722 for a blow to the head/neck area on Love.
Smith should have been flagged for roughing the passer on the third-down incompletion. If he had been, the Packers would have had first-and-10 at the Lions’ 32-yard line, where it’s likely they would have scored at least a field goal, possibly a touchdown. Instead, the Packers punted after the third-down incompletion. The Packers missed out on probably three and possibly seven points in a game they ended up losing 34-31.
The league’s disciplinary process often highlights missed calls, because the league office sees many illegal hits that the officials on the field missed. This one was a big miss.
