Falcons’ Grady Jarrett on receiving end of bad roughing call vs. Tom Brady that helped Bucs seal win

Falcons defensive lineman Grady Jarrett was the recipient of what appeared to be a terrible roughing the passer call after sacking Tom Brady on Sunday, one that helped the Buccaneers weather an Atlanta comeback attempt in an eventual 21-15 victory.

The play occurred with about three minutes remaining in the fourth quarter. Jarrett wrapped up Brady for a 10-yard sack on third-and-5, which should have brought up fourth-and-15 and an ensuing punt.

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But referee Jerome Boger ruled that Jarrett was guilty of roughing, despite what looked to be a textbook tackle:

Disgusting. pic.twitter.com/V8cAZYHqOD

— Mitch Moss (@MitchMossRadio) October 9, 2022

Here’s a closer look at the play. Jarrett did not drive Brady into the ground, nor did he slam his head to the turf:

refs called this roughing the passer on 3rd down and i genuinely do not know what Grady Jarrett could have done differently pic.twitter.com/VX6i0UpJiL

— Christian D’Andrea (@TrainIsland) October 9, 2022

Boger told pool reporter Greg Auman of the The Athletic after the game that Jarrett’s action sending Brady to the turf was excessive.

“What I had was a defender grabbed the quarterback while he was still in the pocket and unnecessarily throwing him to the ground. That is what I was making my decision based upon,” Boger said.

Defensive players have it tough enough as it is when it comes to tackling the quarterback. They can’t hit them high, can’t hit them low, can’t hit them late and can’t drive them into the turf. If the penalty on Jarrett is any indicator of future calls, defenders won’t be able to hit them at all.

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Falcons coach Arthur Smith, naturally, was bewildered by the call:

Arthur Smith was literally all of us after that call

Rise up everyone truly all I know is pain pic.twitter.com/ug1gpAifGk

— Olivia Whitmire (@omwhitmireTV) October 9, 2022

Adding insult to injury, Brady and the Bucs were gifted a first down to the Atlanta 32. Six plays and one first down later, Brady knelt on the ball to end the game.

Smith declined after the game to speak about the call or a defensive holding penalty on the same drive.

“I’m not going to get into that. I haven’t seen the film,” Smith said.

Jarrett declined to speak to the media after the game, per Josh Kendall of The Athletic. 

This story will be updated.