CLEVELAND, Ohio - Browns safety Jabrill Peppers was penalized for a fourth-quarter hit on wide receiver Josh Malone in Sunday's 30-16 loss to the Bengals. The play came a crucial point in the game and has left Browns fans wondering if it was the right call.
The Bengals faced third-and-5 at the Browns 40-yard line when quarterback Andy Dalton tried to connect with Malone on a deep pass near the sideline. As Malone tried to secure the ball, Peppers dislodged it with a big hit that sent Malone out of bounds.
The ruling was that Peppers had hit a defenseless player.