NFL fans upset at officials as hit on Falcons' Tyler Allgeier draws unnecessary roughness penalty

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NFL officials in a game between the Indianapolis Colts and Atlanta Falcons came under fire over a questionable unnecessary roughness call.

The play in question came in the second quarter with about 8:54 left on the clock. Falcons running back Tyler Allgeier caught a pass on a screen play and ran the ball for a first down. On the tail end of the play, Colts linebacker E.J. Speed nailed the running back as he was heading out of bounds.

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Taylor Heinicke of the Falcons hands the ball off to Tyler Allgeier during the Indianapolis Colts game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Dec. 24, 2023, in Atlanta. (Todd Kirkland/Getty Images)

It appeared Allgeier was still in bounds when Speed hit him. But officials called an unnecessary roughness penalty on Speed.

NFL fans were not happy.

"Colts called for a personal foul here on this tackle… how is that unnecessary roughness?" Rate the Refs wrote on X.

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"Where was the penalty on EJ Speed. He hit with his shoulder inbounds??? What’re we doing," Pacers Muse added.

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Tyler Allgeier of the Falcons runs the ball against the Indianapolis Colts on Dec. 24, 2023, in Atlanta. (Todd Kirkland/Getty Images)

"What a garbage call on EJ Speed. Absolutely pathetic. Shoulder to shoulder and IN BOUNDS. What are we doing here?!" Indianapolis radio hot Andy Sweeney wrote.

The drive ended with a Falcons field goal and Atlanta went up 10-7. The team led 13-7 at the half and at the start of the third quarter, Atlanta started with an Allgeier 31-yard touchdown run.

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