Green Bay Packers Fans React To Massive Fine For Potential Career Altering Dirty Play

The Green Bay Packers are on a bye week in Week Six. Their most recent game was a Monday Night Football loss to the Las Vegas Raiders. Las Vegas defeated Green Bay 17-13 thanks to a late-game interception.

Following the conclusion of that game, there were numerous storylines. Christian Watson’s near-touchdown that would have transformed the game was one of the most significant. Jordan Love connected with Watson on a 77-yard completion in the middle of the third quarter, igniting the Packers’ offense. However, how that play finished was a crucial plot point.

Marcus Peters of the Las Vegas Raiders was fined heavily for a horse collar tackle on Green Bay Packers’ Christian Watson.

Robin Adams of Wisconsin Sports Heroics broke the story to us first:

According to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, Peters was fined $13,378 for his illegal tackle on Watson.

Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk writes about the tackle and how it prevented a possibly game-changing touchdown:

“Marcus Peters saved a touchdown with an illegal horse-collar tackle.” It may have influenced the game’s outcome. The league should at least discuss whether a touchdown should be awarded when this happens in the future.”

Green Bay would have gone up 17-10 if Watson had been allowed to score, and they could have played more in OT.

Assume Watson scored the touchdown for the sake of argument. Green Bay wins 17-10. Assume Las Vegas scores the game-tying touchdown and the score is 17-17 entering the Packers’ last possession.

Instead of tossing the interception with seconds left, Love and the offense go to field goal range. This would have given Anders Carlson the opportunity to score the game-winning field goal.

Why Was This A Potential Career Altering Dirty Play?

During the 2004 season, Cowboys defensive back Roy Williams similarly tackled Eagles wide receiver Terrell Ownes. The tackle resulted in a fractured fibula for the Eagles’ wide receiver. Thus, horse-collar tackles were outlawed in 2005.

These kinds of tackles have the potential to change a player’s career rather than just end their season. When Packers fans learned of Peters’ massive fine, they reacted on social media: