New Orleans Saints linebacker Danny Stutsman (28) hits Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Kirk Cousins (8) for a personal foul flag during the first half of the game at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans, Sunday, Sept. 27, 2026. STAFF PHOTO BY DAVID GRUNFELD
STAFF PHOTO BY DAVID GRUNFELD
Then the flag landed on the field. Game officials penalized Stutsman for roughing the passer, giving Las Vegas a new set of downs and clearing the way for a touchdown on the next play.
Stutsman’s penalty was one of several to draw the ire of football fans around the league this week.
Though Stutsman’s hit on Cousins appeared to use perfect technique — indeed, if he had hit any other player it would have been considered clean — the NFL prohibits defenders from landing with their full body weight on top of a quarterback. By the rule, defenders are supposed to make an attempt to roll to the side or break the fall rather than landing directly on the quarterback.
“There were 10 roughing the passers this week so far, I’ve watched those 10, and this is me saying body weight is going to be a big point of emphasis,” Moore said. “... It’s a tough play for the defenders. You’ve got to do everything you can to get to your side.”
It was one of several costly penalties against the Saints in the game. There were also several instances in which game officials seemed to either miss obvious penalties or let the game play out rather than throw a flag.
Moore declined to openly discuss his feelings about the officiating when asked Monday.
“We had our opportunities in this game, ultimately,” Moore said. “We’ll have those conversations, we all know that those conversations are private with discussions about that sort of stuff. There are elements that are out of our control, and there was a flow in that game that was a challenge for everyone, but we had our opportunities.”