On December 5, the Detroit Lions faced off against the Green Bay Packers on “Thursday Night Football.” In a thrilling and tightly contested game, the Lions emerged victorious with a 34-31 win. While the matchup featured several standout moments, it also sparked controversy over certain officiating decisions, including missed calls.
One such moment occurred when Packers quarterback Jordan Love, scrambling out of the pocket, took a forearm to the face from Lions defensive end Za’Darius Smith. Despite the apparent roughness, no penalty flag was thrown, and the game carried on. However, upon further review, the NFL later fined Smith $6,722 for “roughing the passer.”
The fine appears to be the league’s acknowledgment of an officiating oversight, attempting to address the unflagged play with post-game disciplinary action. This incident also added a layer of intrigue, given Smith’s history with the Packers. After signing with Green Bay as a free agent in 2019, Smith spent three seasons with the team before moving on to play one year with the Minnesota Vikings and ultimately joining the Lions.
Smith’s rivalry with his former team was evident in his post-game comments to sideline reporter Stacey Dales, where he declared, “I came to Detroit and got my revenge.” Having played for three NFC North teams, Smith’s performance and fiery remarks have cemented his role as a central figure in one of the NFL’s most heated divisional rivalries.
