ALL HAIL BLEERGH.
In tribute to Bleergh (the God of Penalties), here’s the week nine’s best and worst penalties. Here’s a random breakdown of this weeks penalties. I may or may not try to find the tape for these, nor am I making any judgement call on the individual penalties. I’m sure that there are plays that should have been called and were not, and other plays where the penalty wasn’t needed, depending on your fandom. This is mainly me looking a some numbers and publishing my findings, so let me know if there’s something you would like to see added or removed to the list.
Here are the bestest (in the eyes of Bleergh) penalties of the week:
| Team | Penalty | Result |
| TB | OFFENSIVE HOLDING | TD nullified |
| DAL | OFFENSIVE HOLDING | TD nullified |
| SF | OFFENSIVE HOLDING | TD nullified |
| GB | DEFENSIVE OFFSIDE | FIELD GOAL nullified * |
| TEN | DEFENSIVE PASS INTERFERENCE | Fumble nullified |
*The LAC chose to take the penalty to get a new set of downs, instead of the points.
These plays have multiple flags. This pleases Bleergh.
| Offence | Defence | Description |
| DET | OAK | (:54) (NO HUDDLE, SHOTGUN) 9-M.STAFFORD PASS INCOMPLETE DEEP LEFT TO 19-K.GOLLADAY [99-A.KEY]. PENALTY ON OAK-99-A.KEY, ROUGHING THE PASSER, DECLINED. PENALTY ON OAK-26-N.LAWSON, DEFENSIVE PASS INTERFERENCE, 26 YARDS, ENFORCED AT OAK 34 – NO PLAY. |
| OAK | DET | (15:00) (SHOTGUN) 4-D.CARR PASS INCOMPLETE SHORT MIDDLE TO 12-Z.JONES (25-W.HARRIS). PENALTY ON DET-25-W.HARRIS, DEFENSIVE PASS INTERFERENCE, OFFSETTING, ENFORCED AT DET 3 – NO PLAY. PENALTY ON OAK-64-R.INCOGNITO, UNNECESSARY ROUGHNESS, OFFSETTING. |
| DAL | NYG | (8:41) (SHOTGUN) 4-D.PRESCOTT PASS SHORT LEFT TO 18-R.COBB FOR 17 YARDS, TOUCHDOWN NULLIFIED BY PENALTY [99-L.WILLIAMS]. PENALTY ON DAL-77-T.SMITH, OFFENSIVE HOLDING, OFFSETTING, ENFORCED AT NYG 17 – NO PLAY. PENALTY ON NYG-99-L.WILLIAMS, ROUGHING THE PASSER, OFFSETTING. |
| MIA | NYJ | (11:30) 64-C.REED REPORTED IN AS ELIGIBLE. 27-K.BALLAGE RIGHT GUARD TO MIA 17 FOR 1 YARD (51-B.COPELAND). PENALTY ON MIA-64-C.REED, OFFENSIVE HOLDING, 8 YARDS, ENFORCED AT MIA 16 – NO PLAY. PENALTY ON MIA-19-J.GRANT, ILLEGAL FORMATION, DECLINED. |
| TEN | CAR | (9:58) 17-R.TANNEHILL PASS SHORT MIDDLE INTENDED FOR 11-A.BROWN INTERCEPTED BY 26-D.JACKSON AT TEN 31. 26-D.JACKSON TO TEN 31 FOR NO GAIN (64-N.DAVIS). PENALTY ON TEN-84-C.DAVIS, FACE MASK (15 YARDS), 15 YARDS, ENFORCED AT TEN 30. PENALTY ON TEN-11-A.BROWN, OFFENSIVE PASS INTERFERENCE, DECLINED. |
| TEN | CAR | (6:01) (SHOTGUN) 17-R.TANNEHILL PASS INCOMPLETE DEEP RIGHT TO 84-C.DAVIS. PENALTY ON CAR-24-J.BRADBERRY, DEFENSIVE PASS INTERFERENCE, OFFSETTING, ENFORCED AT TEN 39 – NO PLAY. PENALTY ON TEN-64-N.DAVIS, ILLEGAL USE OF HANDS, OFFSETTING. |
| NYG | DAL | (2:07) (NO HUDDLE, SHOTGUN) 8-D.JONES PASS SHORT RIGHT TO 26-S.BARKLEY PUSHED OB AT NYG 38 FOR NO GAIN (27-J.LEWIS). PENALTY ON DAL-79-M.BENNETT, ILLEGAL USE OF HANDS, DECLINED. PENALTY ON DAL-90-D.LAWRENCE, UNNECESSARY ROUGHNESS, 15 YARDS, ENFORCED AT NYG 38. |
| GB | LAC | 2-M.CROSBY KICKS 52 YARDS FROM GB 35 TO LAC 13. 20-D.KING TO LAC 20 FOR 7 YARDS (13-A.LAZARD). PENALTY ON GB-28-T.BROWN, OFFSIDE ON FREE KICK, 5 YARDS, ENFORCED AT GB 35 – NO PLAY. PENALTY ON GB-28-T.BROWN, ILLEGAL FORMATION, DECLINED. |
Here are the worst (in the eyes of Bleergh) penalties of the week.
| Team | Penalty | Result |
| TB | DEFENSIVE OFFSIDE | 0 yard |
| TB | FALSE START | 4 yards |
| NE | NEUTRAL ZONE INFRACTION | 3 yards |
| GB | DEFENSIVE OFFSIDE | 0 yard |
| DET | DEFENSIVE PASS INTERFERENCE | 0 yard |
| CHI | NEUTRAL ZONE INFRACTION | 4 yards |
| TB | ILLEGAL TOUCH PASS | 0 yard |
| DAL | OFFENSIVE HOLDING | 0 yard |
| BAL | FALSE START | 4 yards |
| MIA | DEFENSIVE TOO MANY MEN ON FIELD | 2 yards |
| CAR | DEFENSIVE PASS INTERFERENCE | 0 yard |
| CHI | NEUTRAL ZONE INFRACTION | 4 yards |
Here are the Best (in the eyes of Bleergh) penalties of the week. As usual all DPI.
| Team | Penalty | Result |
| TB | DEFENSIVE PASS INTERFERENCE | 38 yards |
| SEA | DEFENSIVE PASS INTERFERENCE | 16 yards |
| IND | DEFENSIVE PASS INTERFERENCE | 24 yards |
| NYJ | DEFENSIVE PASS INTERFERENCE | 25 yards |
| CAR | DEFENSIVE PASS INTERFERENCE | 42 yards |
| PIT | DEFENSIVE PASS INTERFERENCE | 35 yards |
| NYG | DEFENSIVE PASS INTERFERENCE | 26 yards |
And here’s the total number of penalties per team this weekend.
| Team | Penalties against | Penalties declined | Penalty yards | Ave yards per penalty | YTD penalties | YTD penalty yards | YTD Ave yards per penalty | Challenges | Challenges Reversed |
| ARIZONA | 11 | 2 | 65 | 7.22 | 81 | 510 | 6.30 | 1 | 0 |
| ATLANTA | Bye | 0 | 0 | n/a | 72 | 507 | 7.04 | 0 | 0 |
| BALTIMORE | 5 | 1 | 34 | 8.50 | 67 | 459 | 6.85 | 0 | 0 |
| BUFFALO | 4 | 2 | 20 | 10.00 | 69 | 474 | 6.87 | 0 | 0 |
| CAROLINA | 9 | 2 | 77 | 11.00 | 60 | 403 | 6.72 | 0 | 0 |
| CHICAGO | 10 | 1 | 70 | 7.78 | 69 | 478 | 6.93 | 0 | 0 |
| CINCINNATI | Bye | 0 | 0 | n/a | 59 | 381 | 6.46 | 0 | 0 |
| CLEVELAND | 6 | 1 | 40 | 8.00 | 89 | 576 | 6.47 | 1 | 0 |
| DALLAS | 11 | 1 | 89 | 8.90 | 73 | 604 | 8.27 | 0 | 0 |
| DENVER | 8 | 1 | 55 | 7.86 | 80 | 549 | 6.86 | 0 | 0 |
| DETROIT | 6 | 0 | 35 | 5.83 | 74 | 452 | 6.11 | 0 | 0 |
| GREEN BAY | 9 | 2 | 40 | 5.71 | 64 | 407 | 6.36 | 0 | 0 |
| HOUSTON | 7 | 0 | 60 | 8.57 | 81 | 560 | 6.91 | 0 | 0 |
| INDIANAPOLIS | 9 | 2 | 89 | 12.71 | 62 | 426 | 6.87 | 1 | 0 |
| JACKSONVILLE | 6 | 2 | 34 | 8.50 | 85 | 603 | 7.09 | 1 | 0 |
| KANSAS CITY | 6 | 2 | 25 | 6.25 | 75 | 531 | 7.08 | 1 | 1 |
| LOS ANGELES RAMS | Bye | 0 | 0 | n/a | 70 | 435 | 6.21 | 0 | 0 |
| LOS ANGELES CHARGERS | 5 | 0 | 45 | 9.00 | 65 | 462 | 7.11 | 0 | 0 |
| MIAMI | 6 | 1 | 43 | 8.60 | 57 | 352 | 6.18 | 1 | 0 |
| MINNESOTA | 5 | 1 | 35 | 8.75 | 80 | 584 | 7.30 | 1 | 0 |
| NEW ENGLAND | 7 | 0 | 48 | 6.86 | 62 | 484 | 7.81 | 0 | 0 |
| NEW ORLEANS | Bye | 0 | 0 | n/a | 66 | 391 | 5.92 | 0 | 0 |
| NEW YORK GIANTS | 9 | 1 | 71 | 8.88 | 64 | 464 | 7.25 | 1 | 0 |
| NEW YORK JETS | 12 | 2 | 105 | 10.50 | 81 | 618 | 7.63 | 1 | 0 |
| OAKLAND | 11 | 2 | 70 | 7.78 | 75 | 590 | 7.87 | 1 | 0 |
| PHILADELPHIA | 9 | 1 | 75 | 9.38 | 67 | 497 | 7.42 | 0 | 0 |
| PITTSBURGH | 5 | 0 | 70 | 14.00 | 57 | 462 | 8.11 | 2 | 0 |
| SAN FRANCISCO | 8 | 0 | 75 | 9.38 | 52 | 413 | 7.94 | 0 | 0 |
| SEATTLE | 4 | 0 | 45 | 11.25 | 71 | 476 | 6.70 | 1 | 0 |
| TAMPA BAY | 11 | 0 | 82 | 7.45 | 77 | 488 | 6.34 | 1 | 1 |
| TENNESSEE | 11 | 1 | 84 | 8.40 | 69 | 555 | 8.04 | 1 | 1 |
| WASHINGTON | 5 | 2 | 15 | 5.00 | 79 | 475 | 6.01 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 215 | 30 | 1596 | 8.63 | 2252 | 15666 | 6.97 | 15 | 3 |
Penalties by type
| Name | Number called | Percentage | YTD | YTD Percentage |
| CHOP BLOCK | 1 | 0.47% | 8 | 0.36% |
| CLIPPING | 0 | 0.00% | 1 | 0.04% |
| DEFENSIVE DELAY OF GAME | 0 | 0.00% | 2 | 0.09% |
| DEFENSIVE HOLDING | 11 | 5.12% | 187 | 8.30% |
| DEFENSIVE OFFSIDE | 16 | 7.44% | 117 | 5.20% |
| DEFENSIVE PASS INTERFERENCE | 16 | 7.44% | 137 | 6.08% |
| DEFENSIVE TOO MANY MEN ON FIELD | 4 | 1.86% | 23 | 1.02% |
| DELAY OF GAME | 2 | 0.93% | 69 | 3.06% |
| DELAY OF KICKOFF | 0 | 0.00% | 1 | 0.04% |
| DISQUALIFICATION | 0 | 0.00% | 8 | 0.36% |
| ENCROACHMENT | 1 | 0.47% | 16 | 0.71% |
| FACE MASK (15 YARDS) | 4 | 1.86% | 46 | 2.04% |
| FAIR CATCH INTERFERENCE | 1 | 0.47% | 6 | 0.27% |
| FALSE START | 30 | 13.95% | 299 | 13.28% |
| HORSE COLLAR TACKLE | 1 | 0.47% | 10 | 0.44% |
| ILLEGAL BAT | 0 | 0.00% | 2 | 0.09% |
| ILLEGAL BLINDSIDE BLOCK | 2 | 0.93% | 17 | 0.75% |
| ILLEGAL BLOCK ABOVE THE WAIST | 7 | 3.26% | 93 | 4.13% |
| ILLEGAL CONTACT | 1 | 0.47% | 27 | 1.20% |
| ILLEGAL DOUBLE-TEAM BLOCK | 1 | 0.47% | 10 | 0.44% |
| ILLEGAL FORMATION | 4 | 1.86% | 48 | 2.13% |
| ILLEGAL FORWARD PASS | 1 | 0.47% | 4 | 0.18% |
| ILLEGAL MOTION | 0 | 0.00% | 9 | 0.40% |
| ILLEGAL SHIFT | 5 | 2.33% | 40 | 1.78% |
| ILLEGAL SUBSTITUTION | 0 | 0.00% | 3 | 0.13% |
| ILLEGAL TOUCH KICK | 0 | 0.00% | 3 | 0.13% |
| ILLEGAL TOUCH PASS | 1 | 0.47% | 1 | 0.04% |
| ILLEGAL USE OF HANDS | 11 | 5.12% | 77 | 3.42% |
| INELIGIBLE DOWNFIELD PASS | 3 | 1.40% | 30 | 1.33% |
| INTENTIONAL GROUNDING | 1 | 0.47% | 16 | 0.71% |
| INVALID FAIR CATCH SIGNAL | 0 | 0.00% | 1 | 0.04% |
| KICK CATCH INTERFERENCE | 1 | 0.47% | 3 | 0.13% |
| LOWERING THE HEAD TO INITIATE CONTACT | 1 | 0.47% | 16 | 0.71% |
| NEUTRAL ZONE INFRACTION | 10 | 4.65% | 81 | 3.60% |
| OFFENSIVE HOLDING | 49 | 22.79% | 539 | 23.93% |
| OFFENSIVE PASS INTERFERENCE | 4 | 1.86% | 80 | 3.55% |
| OFFENSIVE TOO MANY MEN ON FIELD | 1 | 0.47% | 9 | 0.40% |
| OFFSIDE ON FREE KICK | 1 | 0.47% | 7 | 0.31% |
| PLAYER OUT OF BOUNDS ON KICK | 1 | 0.47% | 3 | 0.13% |
| ROUGHING THE KICKER | 0 | 0.00% | 2 | 0.09% |
| ROUGHING THE PASSER | 6 | 2.79% | 83 | 3.69% |
| RUNNING INTO THE KICKER | 2 | 0.93% | 9 | 0.40% |
| TAUNTING | 1 | 0.47% | 7 | 0.31% |
| TRIPPING | 1 | 0.47% | 3 | 0.13% |
| UNNECESSARY ROUGHNESS | 10 | 4.65% | 82 | 3.64% |
| UNSPORTSMANLIKE CONDUCT | 3 | 1.40% | 17 | 0.75% |
*note that the zeros are penalties called from previous weeks but still in the list. Way too lazy to remove them and it ups my word count. Ha.
Offensive holding with over 22% of the total penalties called this week, up from week 8 of 21%.
Total number of penalties are down from 240 last week to 215 this week with 4 teams on bye.
NFL rule explained
New to the ever growing penalty list, this week is “Illegal Touch Pass”. From the inter-webs
ILLEGAL TOUCHING OF A FORWARD PASS.
It is a foul for illegal touching if a forward pass (legal or illegal) thrown from behind the line of scrimmage:
(a) is first touched intentionally or is caught by an originally ineligible offensive player;
or
Penalty: Loss of five yards at the previous spot.
(b) first touches or is caught by an eligible receiver who has gone out of bounds, either of his own volition or by being legally forced out of bounds, and has re-established himself inbounds.
Penalty:
Loss of down at the previous spot.
Notes:
(1) If a forward pass (legal or illegal) is caught by an ineligible offensive player, the ball remains alive.
32 Rule 8, Section 1
(2) The bat of a pass in flight by any player does not end a pass, nor does it change the impetus if the bat
sends it in touch.
(3) If a player touches the ball after having been out of bounds, but prior to re-establishing himself inbounds with both
feet or any part of his body other than his hands, the pass is incomplete, and there is no penalty for illegal touching.
In this week’s case ( TB vs SEA), the receiver (S.MILLER) was out of bounds and caught the ball.
ALL HAIL BLEERGH.
Thanks to http://nflsavant.com for the raw play by play data.
I think more penalties would be a fair trade off for a better Trubisky
NOVEL FLAG FOR THE FLAG GODS! Well done, GTD!