Late in Sunday’s divisional playoff round matchup between the San Francisco 49ers and Dallas Cowboys, the Cowboys were down 19-12 and in desperation mode.
Quarterback Dak Prescott was starting from his own six-yard line with less than a minute remaining in the fourth quarter, and 49ers defensive end Arik Armstead appeared to have a chance of tackling him in his own endzone for a safety that would have surely ended the game right then and there.
But head coach Kyle Shanahan said Armstead didn’t do so because he didn’t want to pick up a roughing the passer penalty.
Kyle Shanahan confirmed in his Monday presser that Arik Armstead held up on tackling Dak Prescott for a safety because he was afraid of drawing a roughing the passer penalty.
I wonder where he got that idea? Certainly not from a league that has no clue how to legislate it!
— Doug Farrar ✍ (@NFL_DougFarrar) January 23, 2023
There have been some questionable roughing the passer penalties called this season.
One was called against San Francisco star pass rusher Nick Bosa in Week 15 against the Seattle Seahawks for a late hit on quarterback Geno Smith.
https://twitter.com/RGIII/status/1603590292795539457
The hit looked like a normal one, yet the referees didn’t see it that way.
Still, the 49ers were able to stop Prescott and the Cowboys on that final series to preserve a 19-12 victory and their third trip to the NFC Championship Game in the last four seasons.
It has been a rough year for Armstead, who played in just nine regular season games due to injury and posted just 11 tackles (eight solo), four QB hits, two tackles for loss and zero sacks.
But as the starter at defensive end opposite Bosa, he is considered a vital part of the Niners’ defense, which is the best in the NFL.
That defense will be tested this coming Sunday against a Philadelphia Eagles team that was third in points scored and total touchdowns, but San Francisco will be up for the challenge.
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