Anfernee Jennings reacts to momentum-changing penalty in Patriots’ loss to Cardinals

The veteran linebacker was flagged for roughing the passer, negating an interception.

The New England Patriots offense appeared to be making some headway in the third quarter against the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday. Unfortunately, the unit’s best drive to that point ended on an unsuccessful 4th-and-1 in the deep red zone.

At that point, momentum seriously swung the Cardinals’ way. Already up 16-3, their defense just made a key stop to put the ball back in quarterback Kyler Murray’s hands.

Three plays later, it appeared as if another swing took place — this time in the Patriots’ favor.

Murray was flushed from the pocket, and while attempting a sack threw an ill-advised pass that ended up in the hands of cornerback Jonathan Jones. The interception set up New England at the Arizona 18-yard line, or so it seemed.

The interception, after all, was called back when linebacker Anfernee Jennings was called for roughing the passer.

At initial glance, the penalty looked questionable — an assessment shared by the 27-year-old after the game.

“I really thought it shouldn’t have been a penalty, but that’s the rule and they flagged me for it” Jennings told MassLive in the State Farm Stadium visitors’ locker room. “Costly because we got an interception. It could have been a big change in momentum.”

“They just told me that even though he is a runner, they still have some of the protections as far as hits to the head,” head coach Jerod Mayo said after the game about his interactions with the officiating crew. “They said Jennings hit him in the head, and they called it. Got to live with it.”

The penalty did not just negate any chance the Patriots would have had at quickly cutting into Arizona’s lead, it also move the ball from the 8- to the 23-yard line. Instead of New England knocking on the door, the Cardinals got some breathing room on that drive.

On the day, the Patriots were flagged four times resulting in a loss of 45 total yards.