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Troy Vincent, the NFL’s executive vice president of football operations, said: “Everyone knows if your quarterback is not healthy, you don’t have a chance to win… We’re not going to back off of protecting the quarterback”

The NFL is “not going to back off of protecting the quarterback”, following criticism of recent ‘roughing the passer’ penalties called in games.

Roughing the passer penalties are called when an on-field official deems a defensive player to have made illegal contact with the quarterback. The NFL rulebook also notes: “When in doubt about a roughness call or potentially dangerous tactic against the quarterback, the referee should always call roughing the passer.”

But the rule became a hot topic again in the league after a number of penalties called in Week Five – one involving 45-year-old, seven-time Super Bowl-winning quarterback Tom Brady – that were deemed too soft.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady is sacked by Atlanta Falcons defensive end Grady Jarrett – the play ruled as roughing the passer

Atlanta Falcons defensive tackle Grady Jarrett, who was flagged for a seemingly harmless sack on Brady, said he was left “clueless” by the call, while former NFL quarterback Chris Simms said referee’s calls were “ruining the sport.”

But at the NFL’s Fall League Meeting in New York on Tuesday, executive vice president of football operations Troy Vincent said the league are “not changing the philosophy around that call”.

Vincent said: “Everyone knows if your quarterback is not healthy, you don’t have a chance to win… We’re not going to back off of protecting the quarterback.”

Asked specifically about the Jarrett penalty on Brady, Vincent added that it is one you’d “not like to see” but that “philosophically, you can support it”.

“The game is not softer,” he said. “It’s a different game. It’s a safer game.”

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell stood by the league’s protection of quarterbacks after recent criticism of roughing the passer penalties

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell answered in a similar vein to Vincent, saying: “We’re not backing off of protecting players that are in a defenceless position or in an exposed position that could lead to injury. And we’ll take those techniques out of the game.”

“We’ve had less calls than we’ve had in the past. There has been no change to the rule.”

Rich McKay, chairman of the NFL’s competition committee, told reporters that roughing-the-passer penalties are actually down compared to years past at this point in the season. Through Week Six, there were 53 in 2018, 59 in 2019, 43 in 2020, 52 in 2021 and 38 so far in 2022, per McKay.

The league is to review rouging the passer as a rule this offseason, but said there will be no changes made during this season.

Sky Sports NFL is your dedicated channel for NFL coverage through the season – featuring a host of NFL Network programming. Don’t forget to follow us on skysports.com/nfl, our Twitter account @SkySportsNFL & Sky Sports – on the go!

This week’s NFL Sunday action live on Sky Sports sees Lamar Jackson’s Baltimore Ravens host the Cleveland Browns in an AFC North rivalry clash, followed by the Seattle Seahawks at the Los Angeles Chargers – live on Sky Sports NFL, from 6pm, Sunday

Lamar Jackson and the Baltimore Ravens host the Cleveland Browns in an AFC North rivalry clash, while Geno Smith and the red-hot Seattle Seahawks offense are also in action as part of the Week Seven double-header live on Sky Sports this Sunday.

The Ravens (3-3) have been a thrill-a-minute so far this season, with Jackson and the offense back to their explosive best, but the team has also shown a fair amount of fragility in repeatedly blowing leads. They now host a talented Browns (2-4) team that are badly underperforming in 2022 and desperate for a win to begin to turn things around. The action gets under way live on Sky Sports NFL from 6pm on Sunday.

Then, following on from that mouth-watering match-up, the Seahawks (3-3) are headed to Los Angeles to take on the Chargers (4-2). Not much was expected of Seattle this season after the exit of their Super Bowl-winning quarterback Russell Wilson, but Pete Carroll’s team have exceeded expectations so far, thanks in large part to the play of former backup Smith at QB – this one gets under way at 9.25pm from SoFi Stadium.

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Miami Dolphins Tua Tagovailoa was taken to hospital with head and neck injuries after being forced out of the game against the Cincinnati Bengals in Week Four of this season.

Rounding off the Sunday night action, we join our friends at NBC for Football Night in America and Sunday Night Football, with Tua Tagovailoa’s anticipated return at quarterback for the Miami Dolphins (3-3) as they host the Pittsburgh Steelers (2-4) – kick-off is at 1.20am, early on Monday morning.

Elsewhere, the Week Seven action gets under way with the traditional Thursday night fare as Kyler Murray and the Arizona Cardinals (2-4) host the New Orleans Saints (2-5) – live on Sky Sports NFL from 1.15am on Friday morning.

Then, on Monday night, Week Seven concludes with the Chicago Bears (2-4) on the road at the New England Patriots (3-3), with the hosts riding a two-game win streak under rookie quarterback Bailey Zappe coming into the contest. Watch live on Sky Sports NFL from 1.15am, Tuesday.

Sky Sports NFL is your dedicated channel for NFL coverage through the season – featuring a host of NFL Network programming. Don’t forget to follow us on skysports.com/nfl, our Twitter account @SkySportsNFL & Sky Sports – on the go!

The Chargers (4-2) win third straight game to sit atop the AFC West, tied with the Chiefs; the Broncos (2-4) fail to score more than 16 points in a game for fifth time this season; watch Thursday Night Football – Saints @ Cardinals – live on Sky Sports NFL, 1.20am, Friday

Dustin Hopkins kicked four field goals, including a 39-yarder with two and a half minutes remaining in overtime, as the Los Angeles Chargers piled on the misery for Russell Wilson and the Denver Broncos with a 19-16 victory on Monday night.

Story of the Game

Hopkins, who had injured his hamstring during the first half, grimaced as he kicked the ball and fell to the ground before being picked up by his team-mates.

The game had appeared to be headed toward a tie until Denver’s Montrell Washington muffed JK Scott’s punt at the Broncos 32-yard line, with Deane Leonard recovering the ball for the Chargers at the 28-yard line.

The Chargers have won three straight to improve to 4-2 on the year, seeing them tied with the Kansas City Chiefs atop the AFC West. Denver’s season, meanwhile, continues to implode with a third consecutive defeat dropping them to 2-4.

The Broncos’ struggles on offense, in particular, continued; Denver have failed to score more than 16 points in a game on five occasions this season, the only exception being a 32-23 defeat to the Las Vegas Raiders in Week Four.

Wilson completed 15 of his 28 pass attempts for 188 yards and a touchdown. Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert went 37 of 57 for 238 yards and an interception – snapping his 26-game streak of throwing at least one TD.

Denver had jumped out to a 10-0 first-quarter lead courtesy of two scoring drives to start the game. Brandon McManus kicked a 51-yard field goal to kick things off, then Wilson found a wide-open Greg Dulcich for a 39-yard touchdown.

The Chargers answered on their ensuing possession, putting together a 15-play, 82-yard drive that was capped by an Austin Ekeler six-yard score. Los Angeles tied the game at 10 apiece thanks to Hopkins’ first field goal, with 53 seconds remaining in the half, before a further McManus kick nudged the Broncos nudged in front at the break.

The Chargers again tied things up courtesy of Hopkins’ boot on their first drive of the third quarter and the teams traded field goals in the fourth quarter. McManus was good from 48 yards after Baron Browning picked off Herbert. The Chargers answered with Hopkins making it from 35.

It was left to the Chargers kicker to deliver the decisive blow late in overtime.

The two teams combined for 19 penalties and a season-high 240 yards in a sloppy contest. The Broncos were flagged 10 times for 151 yards, the 24th time since 2000 a team has drawn more than 150 penalty yards, according to TruMedia.

Sky Sports NFL is your dedicated channel for NFL coverage through the season – featuring a host of NFL Network programming. Don’t forget to follow us on skysports.com/nfl, our Twitter account @SkySportsNFL & Sky Sports – on the go!

Josh Allen threw for 329 yards and three TDs as the Buffalo Bills gained some revenge for their overtime loss to the Kansas City Chiefs in last season’s playoffs; watch Denver Broncos @ Los Angeles Chargers on Monday Night Football, live on Sky Sports NFL, 1.15am, Tuesday

Josh Allen threw for 329 yards and three touchdowns, including the go-ahead scoring strike to tight end Dawson Knox with a minute left, as the Buffalo Bills beat the Kansas City Chiefs 24-20 on Sunday at Arrowhead Stadium.

Story of the Game

Stefon Diggs had 10 catches for 148 yards and a touchdown for Buffalo, with Gabe Davis grabbing the other of Allen’s TD tosses as the Bills gained some revenge for their overtime loss in Kansas City in the playoffs last season. Along with that divisional round defeat, the Bills also had their season end at Arrowhead in AFC title game the previous year.

Patrick Mahomes, who needed only 13 seconds to drive the Chiefs into field goal range to send that playoff game to overtime last year, had a minute left on the clock to try and get the game-winning score himself this time round, but his interception to Buffalo cornerback Taron Johnson on a pass intended for rookie Skyy Moore all but ended the contest.

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Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen finds Dawson Knox in the endzone for a TD before Taron Johnson intercepts a pass thrown by Kansas City Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes.

Mahomes finished with 338 yards passing to go with two touchdowns and two picks, including throwing one in the endzone early on in the game. JuJu Smith-Schuster had five catches for 113 yards and a score for Kansas City, a 42-yard catch and run that gave them the lead for the first time in the second quarter.

Allen and the Bills were guilty of wasting a couple of golden opportunities in the first half, with their star quarterback fumbling the football at the Kansas City 13-yard line on their opening series, while they also turned it over on downs following that Smith-Schuster score for KC as Allen threw incomplete on fourth-and-goal from the three-yard line.

But Buffalo answered with a frantic touchdown drive in the final minute of the half. Backed up on their own one-yard line, Allen drove his team the full length of the field in just 73 seconds before finding Davis for a 34-yard touchdown.

But, just like in January, the Chiefs only required mere seconds in order to immediately answer back. In the final 16 seconds of the first half, Kansas just about moved into field goal range for Harrison Butker and the kicker successfully struck a 62-yarder through the goal posts to tie the game up at 10 apiece heading into the break.

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Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker made a 62-yard field goal, the longest ever in Arrowhead Stadium and Kansas City Chiefs franchise history – and he didn’t even watch.

The back-and-forth contest continued in the second half; after Butker missed from 51 on the opening series, Diggs hauled in a 17-yard TD to have the Bills 17-10 up. But, again, Kansas City answered straight back, with Mecole Hardman tying the game up after a goal-line grab.

When the Bills failed on another fourth-down attempt early in the fourth quarter, Butker added a 44-yard field goal to secure Kansas City a 20-17 lead. But, on this occasion the Bills and Allen would have the final say, with the quarterback finding Knox for a 14-yard score to cap a hugely impressive drive, before Mahomes’ game-ending error moments later.

The Bills hold the best record in the AFC as the only team that’s 5-1 on the season in the conference, while the Chiefs slip back to the pack at 4-2.

Stats leaders

Bills

• Passing: Josh Allen, 27/40, 329 yards, 3 TDs
• Rushing: Devin Singletary, 17 carries, 85 yards
• Receiving: Stefon Diggs, 10 catches, 148 yards, 1 TD
• Gabe Davis, three catches, 74 yards, 1 TD

Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen celebrates his touchdown pass to top receiver Stefon Diggs

Chiefs

• Passing: Patrick Mahomes, 25/40, 338 yards, 2 TDs, 2 INTs
• Rushing: Clyde Edwards-Helaire, nine carries, 33 yards
• Receiving: JuJu Smith-Schuster, five catches, 113 yards, 1 TD
• Travis Kelce, eight catches, 108 yards

Scoring Summary

What’s next?

Monday Night Football sees Russell Wilson and the Denver Broncos (2-3) back in action, on the road against AFC West division rivals the Los Angeles Chargers (3-2) – live on Sky Sports NFL from 1.15am early on Tuesday morning.

The Chiefs host the San Francisco 49ers (3-3) next Sunday as they look to get back to winning ways following their defeat to Buffalo, who are meanwhile on their bye in Week Seven – the Bills host the Green Bay Packers (3-3) in Week Eight.

Sky Sports NFL is your dedicated channel for NFL coverage through the season – featuring a host of NFL Network programming. Don’t forget to follow us on skysports.com/nfl, our Twitter account @SkySportsNFL & Sky Sports – on the go!

This week’s NFL Sunday action live on Sky Sports sees the Atlanta Falcons host the San Francisco 49ers, before two young superstar QBs clash as Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs face Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills – live on Sky Sports NFL, from 6pm, Sunday

Two of the best young quarterbacks in the NFL, Patrick Mahomes and Josh Allen, go head-to-head on Sunday as the Kansas City Chiefs host the Buffalo Bills, live on Sky Sports NFL.

The game picks for the Week Six double-header live on Sky have been announced, with the San Francisco 49ers (3-2) travelling to the Atlanta Falcons (2-3) in the opening game of the evening – kick-off at 6pm.

Then, following on from the action in Atlanta, is the latest meeting of Mahomes and Allen. These two superstars of the sport have met three times previously, with Mahomes currently holding a 3-1 advantage, including most recently and most crucially an epic 32-36 overtime triumph in last year’s divisional round of the playoffs.

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Check out the Kansas City Chiefs’ Patrick Mahomes’ best plays in what was a 4-TD game in Week 5 against the Las Vegas Raiders.

Allen threw for a staggering 329 yards and four touchdowns in that game and still came out on the losing side, while Mahomes had 378 passing yards and three TDs – and famously got his team in position for a game-tying field goal with only 13 seconds left on the clock after the fourth of those Allen TDs had earned Buffalo a late three-point lead.

Mahomes and the Chiefs were ultimately victorious in overtime, scoring on their first possession, with Allen left helplessly watching on from the sideline.

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Josh Allen found Buffalo Bills wide receiver Gabe Davis as he ran in an incredible 98-yard touchdown against the Pittsburgh Steelers.

The two quarterbacks, and both teams, have started this season in similarly explosive fashion, the Chiefs and Bills both 4-1 through the first five weeks going into their latest monumental matchup. Watch it live on Sky Sports NFL from 9.25pm.

Rounding off the Sunday night triple-header, we join our friends at NBC for Football Night in America and a classic Sunday Night Football encounter, as the last remaining undefeated team in the NFL, the Philadelphia Eagles (5-0) host their bitter NFC East rivals, the Dallas Cowboys (4-1), who come into the contest fresh from their own four-game win streak – kick-off is at 1.20am early on Monday morning.

Elsewhere, the Week Six action gets under way with the traditional Thursday night fare as the struggling Washington Commanders (1-4) head to the Chicago Bears (2-3), both teams desperate for a victory to keep their fading hopes for this season alive. It’s live on Sky Sports NFL from 1.15am, Friday morning.

Then, on Monday night, Week Six concludes with the Denver Broncos (2-3) on the road at the Los Angeles Chargers (3-2) in another key divisional clash, this time in the AFC West. Watch it live on Sky Sports NFL from 1.15am, Tuesday.

Sky Sports NFL is your dedicated channel for NFL coverage through the season – featuring a host of NFL Network programming. Don’t forget to follow us on skysports.com/nfl, our Twitter account @SkySportsNFL & Sky Sports – on the go!

“While the investigation determined that the team medical staff and unaffiliated medical professionals followed the steps of the Protocol as written, the NFL and NFLPA agree that the outcome in this case is not what was intended when the Protocols were drafted,” a joint statement read

The National Football League (NFL) and its players’ association have agreed to enhanced concussion protocols after a head injury suffered by Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa prompted widespread concern.

A joint statement from the two parties on Saturday said ataxia – which includes abnormal balance, motor coordination or “dysfunctional speech” – would be added as a “no-go” symptom. Players diagnosed with ataxia during a game will not be allowed to return to the field.

Tagovailoa was carried off the field last week when his head slammed into the turf as he took a sack during a game against the Cincinnati Bengals.

Fans and armchair experts alike questioned why he was allowed to play against the Bengals as four days prior he looked disoriented after hitting his head to the ground during a game against the Buffalo Bills.

Miami coach Mike McDaniel defended his decision to allow Tagovailoa to play against the Bengals, saying “several layers of medical professionals” had cleared the quarterback.

The NFLPA initiated an investigation into the incident.

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Miami Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel described Tua Tagovailoa’s collision as ‘scary’ after the quarterback was hospitalized against the Cincinnati Bengals

“While the investigation determined that the team medical staff and unaffiliated medical professionals followed the steps of the Protocol as written, the NFL and NFLPA agree that the outcome in this case is not what was intended when the Protocols were drafted,” the joint statement read.

“As such, as has been done in previous cases, based on the advice of the parties’ respective medical experts, the Protocol will be modified to enhance the safety of the players. Specifically, the term “ataxia” has been added to the mandatory “no-go” symptoms.

“‘Ataxia” is defined as abnormality of balance/stability, motor coordination or dysfunctional speech caused by a neurological issue.

“In other words, if a player is diagnosed with “ataxia” by any club or neutral physician involved in the application of the Concussion Protocol, he will be prohibited from returning to the game, and will receive the follow-up care required by the Protocol.”

Tagovailoa will not travel for his team’s Sunday game against the New York Jets.

Ward: Tagovailoa ‘could have died’ | Joe Burrow: Head injuries part of NFL

Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa “could have died” as a result of the mismanagement of a concussion, former rugby league player Stevie Ward has told Sky Sports.

Ward, who was captain of Leeds Rhinos before he was forced to retire from rugby league at the age of 27 due to concussions he suffered on the field, said: “We need to sit with the understanding that people are getting really ill, whether that’s short-term or long-term.”

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Former Leeds Rhinos forward Stevie Ward, who retired aged 27 due to long-standing consequences of a concussion injury, says Tua Tagovailoa could have died, after re-entering the field against the Buffalo Bills following a concussion.

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Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow described Tua Tagovailoa’s injury as ‘scary’ after he was taken to hospital with head, neck and back injuries

“I saw that injury, the first one on the Sunday,” Ward said. “And the way that he got up, then stumbling to the floor – his team-mates holding him up, knowing it’s not right – there’s fundamentally something wrong.

“But then he’s able to come back onto the field and test himself against the other team of prime athletes, who are all out to get him… and he plays four days later.

“He could have died.”