Falcons accused Patriots of illegal simulation of a snap

The Patriots have been accused of one other NFL rule violation: Together with being again on prime of the division, the Patriots are as soon as once more within the information relating to accusations of rule violations.

After New England’s 24-23 win towards the Falcons on Sunday, each Atlanta quarterback Michael Penix Jr. and head coach Raheem Morris mentioned the cost that the Patriots protection “simulated a snap” by mimicking Penix Jr.’s clapping. It’s an unlawful transfer within the NFL (and a 15-yard penalty), falling beneath the league’s “disconcerting signals” rule.

The sequence got here at a pivotal second late within the fourth quarter because the Falcons tried to maneuver the ball into subject objective vary.

However after being caught off-guard by the snap, Penix Jr. rushed his throw, the results of which was a 10-yard penalty for intentional grounding. It set Atlanta again, and New England (ultimately) went on to win.

“Supposedly they have been clapping,” said Penix Jr. when requested concerning the matter following the sport. “For us, each time I’m clapping, which means I need the ball.

“I knew [Falcons center Ryan Neuzil] mentioned he heard them clapping,” Penix Jr. continued, “and he thought it was my clap, and he snapped the ball. I threw the ball in [Kyle Pitts’] path. He had simply launched on a route. I believed I used to be going to be okay with the grounding half. Clearly that wasn’t the case.”

Morris supplied a extra direct allegation.

“They did a pleasant job. They simulated a snap,” mentioned the Atlanta coach. “The ball got here early, was snapped early. Inside that snap, that was after we obtained the intentional grounding. Good job by these guys. Nice situational soccer. Nice play. Acquired to snap the ball. That’s why the ball was snapped early on Mike. He wasn’t prepared for the snap.”

On Monday, Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel was asked about the allegations.

“Clapgate,” he joked throughout his weekly interview with WEEI’s “The Greg Hill Present.”

“That was new. I didn’t see that,” Vrabel mentioned of the clapping. “Possibly that’s a testomony to our followers. It obtained loud and I may hear the power, so thank them for that.”

Trivia: The Falcons have misplaced each Tremendous Bowls that the NFC staff has appeared in. One was to the Patriots in 2017. What different staff has defeated Atlanta within the Tremendous Bowl?

(Reply on the backside).

Trace: AFC West.

Scores and schedules:

The Patriots defeated the Falcons 24-23 on Sunday, extending New England’s profitable streak to 6 video games. Up subsequent is a troublesome matchup on the street towards the Buccaneers on Sunday at 1 p.m.

The Celtics host the Jazz tonight at 7:30 p.m.

Tomorrow, the Bruins can be in New York to play the Islanders at 7 p.m.

Extra from Boston.com:

Taking the temperature of Patriots followers: Listed here are a few of the reactions to yesterday’s win towards the Falcons.

On today: In 1961, the then-Boston Patriots defeated the Dallas Texans 28-21. The scoring distinction within the sport got here through a 91-yard landing run in the course of the third quarter from Ron Burton (father of WBZ sports activities director Steve Burton).

But the play that can all the time stand out from this explicit sport occurred when Boston was on protection. Backed up towards their very own goal-line, the Patriots made a cease on the sport’s closing play due to a weird sequence. A fan in some way made his approach onto the sector, knocking down the Texans’ attempted touchdown pass. It stays an argument that might solely have occurred in a a lot earlier period {of professional} soccer.

“I mentioned, ‘Jeez I want we may’ve discovered who that was,’” a good-natured Texans head coach Hank Stram said of the play. “That was the most effective defensive play we noticed all 12 months.”

Every day spotlight: In what was a profession day on the sector (and likewise a difficult one off of it), DeMario Douglas hauled in a highlight-worthy 58-yard catch.