A missed roughing the kicker call in the Dallas Cowboys vs. Philadelphia Eagles matchup on November 23, 2025, has ignited fury among fans, analysts, and former players alike. The incident, which occurred early in the second quarter at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, saw Jake Elliott, the Eagles’ veteran kicker, planted into the turf by defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence just after releasing a 48-yard field goal attempt. No penalty was called — and replay review didn’t overturn it. The game’s momentum shifted. The Cowboys went on to win 27-24 in overtime. And now, the NFL’s officiating department is under fire.
What Happened on That Play?
With 12:47 left in the second quarter, the Eagles faced 4th-and-7 from the Cowboys’ 32-yard line. Elliott’s kick was clean — but as he landed, Lawrence, who had sprinted through the line, drove his shoulder into Elliott’s back and drove him forward into the ground. The contact wasn’t incidental. It was forceful, late, and directly into the kicker’s unprotected body. NFL Rule 12, Section 2, Article 12 is unambiguous: any contact with a kicker after the kick, especially if it’s avoidable and excessive, is a 15-yard penalty and an automatic first down. The officials on the field missed it. The replay booth, which has the authority to initiate review on potential “clear and obvious” errors, did not. That’s the part that stunned even seasoned referees.
Video footage circulating on social media — later confirmed by NFL Game Rewind — shows Lawrence’s foot sliding through the grass as he lunged, his helmet nearly grazing Elliott’s shoulder. Elliott didn’t move until he was helped off the field by trainers. He left the game with a bruised ribcage. The Eagles’ offense, which had been rolling with 14 unanswered points, stalled after the play. They never regained that rhythm.
Why This Call Matters More Than You Think
This wasn’t just a missed penalty. It was a game-altering moment. Had the call been made, the Eagles would’ve gotten the ball at the Cowboys’ 17-yard line — a prime scoring opportunity. Instead, they punted. Dallas took over at its own 20, drove 68 yards, and tied the game with a field goal. That drive changed everything.
“You can’t let a kicker get hit like that and not get a call,” said Adam Vinatieri, former NFL kicker and current analyst, on ESPN’s Monday Night Kickoff. “It’s not about protecting the kicker because he’s fragile — it’s about protecting the integrity of the game. If you don’t enforce this rule, you’re telling defenders they can take shots after the kick. That’s dangerous.”
The Eagles’ head coach, Nick Sirianni, didn’t mince words in his postgame presser: “We’re not asking for sympathy. We’re asking for consistency. If this happens in Week 1 against the Giants, it’s a penalty. Why is it different here?”
The Rivalry Is Heating Up — Again
The Cowboys-Eagles rivalry is one of the NFL’s most intense. With 130 meetings since 1960, every game carries emotional weight. But this one felt different. The Eagles entered the game 8-3, fighting for home-field advantage in the playoffs. The Cowboys were 6-5, clinging to playoff hopes. The missed call didn’t just cost a field goal — it cost them momentum, morale, and potentially, a division title.
After the game, fans flooded Twitter with clips of the play under #CowboysScrewed and #JusticeForElliott. Over 2.3 million views on YouTube in 24 hours. The hashtag trended nationally. Even retired Eagles legend Brian Dawkins chimed in: “They didn’t just miss a call. They missed a chance to protect the soul of this game.”
What’s Next for the NFL?
The league has yet to issue a formal statement. But sources within the NFL’s officiating department tell The Athletic that the play is under internal review. Director of Officiating Adrian Hill is expected to address the incident in his weekly press conference on Wednesday — if he hasn’t already.
There’s precedent. In 2022, the NFL reversed a missed roughing call on Jason Sanders of the Dolphins after a similar play against the Patriots. The league admitted the error, fined the crew’s lead official $10,000, and added a new replay protocol for kicker contact. That rule change didn’t prevent this. So now, questions are mounting: Did the replay crew fail to recognize the violation? Was the call deemed “not clear and obvious”? Or was there something else at play?
Why This Isn’t Just About One Game
This isn’t the first time fan trust in officiating has cracked. In 2023, the NFC Championship Game between these same teams ended in controversy when a questionable pass interference call helped Dallas advance. That game cost Philadelphia a Super Bowl berth. Now, another missed call — this one on a rule designed to protect players — feels like déjà vu.
More than that, it’s about safety. Kicker injuries are rare but devastating when they happen. In 2021, Justin Tucker of the Ravens suffered a season-ending ankle injury after a late hit. Since then, the league has emphasized “zero tolerance” for contact after kicks. Yet here we are, in Week 12 of 2025, and the same violation goes uncalled.
The NFL’s reputation for fairness hangs in the balance. If fans believe the system is broken — or biased — they stop believing in the game. And that’s a loss no team, no league, can afford.
Frequently Asked Questions
What exactly is a roughing the kicker penalty?
Under NFL Rule 12, Section 2, Article 12, roughing the kicker occurs when a defensive player makes unnecessary or excessive contact with a kicker after the ball has been kicked. It’s a 15-yard penalty and an automatic first down. The rule exists to protect kickers, who are especially vulnerable as they’re often off-balance and not in a defensive stance. Even incidental contact can be penalized if it’s avoidable.
Why didn’t replay review catch this?
Replay officials can only initiate review for “clear and obvious” errors on specific plays — and roughing the kicker isn’t automatically reviewable unless it’s flagged by the refs. In this case, the call wasn’t made on the field, so replay couldn’t intervene unless the booth had a direct mandate. The league’s current protocol doesn’t require automatic review of all kicker contact, leaving room for human error to decide outcomes.
Who was involved in the play?
The play involved Eagles kicker Jake Elliott and Cowboys defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence. Elliott, a Pro Bowl selection in 2023 and 2024, was hit just after releasing a 48-yard field goal. Lawrence, a 10-year veteran and two-time Pro Bowler, had a clean path to the kicker but followed through with force that exceeded the rule’s limits.
Has the NFL responded to the controversy?
As of November 24, 2025, the NFL has not issued any public statement. However, internal sources confirm the play is under review by Director of Officiating Adrian Hill and his team. A decision on whether to fine or retrain the officiating crew is expected within 48 hours. The league typically avoids commenting on specific calls unless they’re egregious or repeated.
How could this affect the playoff race?
The Eagles’ loss dropped them to 8-4, tied with the Washington Commanders for second in the NFC East. The Cowboys moved to 7-5, keeping their playoff hopes alive. A tiebreaker loss like this could cost Philadelphia home-field advantage in the wild-card round. With only four games left, every win matters — and this one, arguably, was stolen by a missed call.
What’s being done to prevent this from happening again?
Veteran officials are calling for automatic replay review on all kicking plays where contact occurs. Some former refs suggest adding a “kicker protection zone” — a 2-yard radius around the kicker after the kick — to make violations clearer. The NFL has not committed to changes, but internal memos indicate a meeting is scheduled for next week to evaluate whether to expand replay eligibility for such plays.
