NFL Fans Outraged After Horrible Roughing the Passer Penalty During Giants-Saints

Liam McKeone | Oct 5, 2025

Carl Granderson was flagged for a tough roughing the passer penalty that had NFL fans up in arms. / NFL

The Saints hosted the Giants in the Big Easy on Sunday and finally got Spencer Rattler his first win.

New Orleans beat New York, 26-14, to snap a four-game losing streak and get on the board in the win column. While it was Rattler's first win, the defense really ruled the day, with the Saints picking off Jaxson Dart twice and returning a fumble for a touchdown.

Near the end of the contest, however, the referees caused quite a stir.

With the Giants in desperation mode after the two-minute warning, Dart dropped back to pass. His offensive line neglected to do their jobs properly for the rookie quarterback and Saints edge rusher Carl Granderson flew off the line unblocked with a direct path to Dart. He crushed Dart for a thunderous sack—but officials threw a flag for roughing the passer.

Get out of here with this roughing call. Alan Eck is the worst pic.twitter.com/4eIlfygFw7

— Billy M (@BillyM_91) October 5, 2025

The call enraged fans all over the league, as Granderson appeared to do nothing but make as clean a hit as anybody will see on a quarterback. He didn't land with his weight on Dart, which has controversially drawn flags in recent seasons. He didn't hit him high. Granderson just tackled the quarterback and was penalized.

Even if it came in a low-stakes situation, the awful call sparked outrage.

We might actually have the worst roughing-the-passer call in NFL history against Saints DE Carl Granderson on Giants QB Jaxson Dart. And I know that's a big statement. But geez.

— Mike Triplett (@MikeTriplett) October 5, 2025

The roughing call on New Orleans just now is the worst I can recall. It was a sack. That’s it. Not allowed. Ridiculous.

— Scott Van Pelt (@notthefakeSVP) October 5, 2025

Of all the horrible roughing the passer calls that we’ve seen over the years, the one just called on Carl Granderson is the worst. Gave HIM a penalty for the Giants OL not blocking

— Trevor Sikkema (@TampaBayTre) October 5, 2025

Bro, what do you want Carl Granderson to do there?

Is not this still football?

Absurd.

— Jerit Roser (@JeritRoser) October 5, 2025

Glad Dart is OK after that sack. But the roughing the passer call that was just made on Carl Granderson is going to get a LOT of attention this week in the league. The kind of call that makes you scrutinize the person who threw the flag

— Pat Leonard (@PLeonardNYDN) October 5, 2025

That roughing the passer call on Carl Granderson was maybe the worst I’ve ever seen. And that’s a high bar. Wow.

— The Count (@TheCount1017) October 5, 2025

Refs can’t be serious with that roughing on Granderson

— Mina Kimes (@minakimes) October 5, 2025

Holy 💩 that call against Granderson might be the worst I’ve ever seen

— Matt Moscona (@MattMoscona) October 5, 2025

Not sure how you sack a QB with a better effort to not get flagged and still get flagged. That's just a bad call. Granderson did everything right it seemed.

— James Palmer (@JamesPalmerTV) October 5, 2025

“Granderson forgot to put a pillow under Dart so it’s roughing the passer”

- Refs in the Saints vs Giants game

— Mindwizard (@K0R3Mindwizard) October 5, 2025

It's difficult to defend the call. Impossible, really. This call will surely be a talking point for a while, even if it came with the game decided.

A brutal penalty.

---

More NFL on Sports Illustrated

feed