A Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker rammed helmet-first into the helmet of the Green Bay Packers quarterback on Sunday night, dropping him for a sack, a critical play late in the game.

No flag was thrown, and NBC broadcasters Cris Collinsworth and Al Michaels wondered if perhaps one should have been, due to the helmet-to-helmet contact.

Clarification came Monday from NFL rules expert Mike Pereira in comments to the Union-Tribune.

“It is not a foul,” said Pereira, rules analyst for FOX Sports.


While the helmet to helmet hit was of some concern, Steelers linebacker T.J. Watt was in the clear because Packers quarterback Brett Hundley had pulled the ball down and become a runner.

Hundley was still behind the line of scrimmage and between the tackles — but a runner is what he was.

“Hundley is in a passing posture and is scrambling,” Pereira said. “He is no different than any runner at that point no matter where he is.”

As for the helmet blow, Pereira deemed it legal.


“The only helmet to helmet foul would be if it were directly leading with the crown of the helmet,” he said. “That was not the case here.”

I rate Pereira the gold standard of NFL rules analysis. A former NFL Vice President of Officiating, he is clear in his explanations. If the official gets it wrong, he will say it.

Watt’s play was an A+ sack that set up Pittsburgh to win the game on a field goal.

The linebacker, who’d been patrolling the middle of the field in pass coverage, made a smart quick decision and then got Hundley to the ground. The helmet-to-helmet contact, which was more than a glancing blow, was an unfortunate byproduct of the play but not enough to warrant a 15-yard flag.


The Steelers (9-2) took Watt with the 30th pick of this year’s draft. He has appeared in 10 games and amassed 27 tackles, six passes defensed, five sacks and an interception.

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Tom.Krasovic@SDUnionTribune.com; Twitter: SDUTKrasovic