The NFL took the unusual step Sunday of expressing immediate support for a roughing-the-passer penalty against Green Bay Packers linebacker Clay Matthews, the latest in a series of controversial efforts to protect quarterbacks this season.
Referee Craig Wrolstad penalized Matthews for landing on Washington Redskins quarterback Alex Smith late in the third quarter at FedEx Field. In a tweet sent shortly thereafter with video of the play, the NFL cited Rule 12, Section 2, Article 9(b) in justifying Wrolstad's decision.
This is a foul for roughing the passer - the defender lands "with all or most of the defender's weight" on the passer.