Packers' loss to Raiders could push NFL to make new rule
The Green Bay Packers missed a lot of opportunities to beat the Las Vegas Raiders on Monday night and one of the biggest moments came when the Packers offense couldn't convert Christian Watson's 77-yard catch-and-run into six points. Now, granted, Raiders veteran cornerback, Marcus Peters, made a super-heady play by pulling Watson down from behind. Sure, […]
The Green Bay Packers missed a lot of opportunities to beat the Las Vegas Raiders on Monday night and one of the biggest moments came when the Packers offense couldn't convert Christian Watson's 77-yard catch-and-run into six points.
Now, granted, Raiders veteran cornerback, Marcus Peters, made a super-heady play by pulling Watson down from behind. Sure, he was hit with a horse collar penalty, but Watson was already inside the 10, so it was only half the distance to the goal and not the full 15-yard penalty. Therefore, the Packers offense took over with a 1st and goal from the Raiders 3.
The move worked. The Packers couldn't punch the ball in the end zone and had to settle for a field goal. A touchdown would've given them a 17-10 lead as opposed to their 13-10 lead. And, as we all know, the Raiders eventually won, 17-13.
"It's tough, but at the end of the day, I don't even think I should be in that position. I think I should be able to outrun him, at that point," Watson told reporters after the game. "I just have to be faster."
It was a very, very smart move by Peters, but also a dangerous one. There's a reason why the NFL is so strict on making sure guys aren't out there horse collaring each other – it can easily injure players.
Just look at Jameis Winston back in 2021. He was quarterbacking the New Orleans Saints against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Devin White horse collared Winston during a run and it tore his ACL. He was playing well as the Saints starting quarterback at the time, but the injury complicated things and he eventually lost the starting job. His career has never been the same, since.
So, it begs the question: Could the NFL make a new rule that either prevents this from happening or perhaps gives Watson the TD? Or, eject Peters due to intentionally putting another player in danger?
It would make sense if the NFL did come up with something to curtail this in the future. It's rather unprecedented, as it's hard to remember when the last time something similar to this specific play happened, but it wouldn't hurt to have preventative measures in place to keep it from occurring, again.
The last thing the NFL should want is more guys trying this on big-time playmakers like Watson.
Packers’ youth is clearly holding the offense back
Matt LaFleur’s recent comments didn’t help anyone think otherwise.
