The Atlanta Falcons lost to the New England Patriots 23-24. But the talking point is not just the loss, but the intentional grounding call. So, what really happened? On second-and-10 near midfield, Michael Penix Jr. got a snap earlier than he expected. The ball came flying before he was ready. Instinct kicked in, and he tossed it toward the ground, short of the line of scrimmage. Why did he do so?

After the game, Penix explained that he was actually aiming in the direction of Kyle Pitts. He added that center Ryan Neuzil believed the Patriots had mimicked the Falcons’ snap count before the play. And that’s when Michael Penix Jr. cleared his stance on the simulated snap talk.

“Yeah, supposedly. Supposedly, they were clapping,” Penix said. “For us, whenever I’m clapping, that means I want the ball. I knew [Neuzil] said he heard them clapping, and he thought it was my clap, and he snapped the ball. I threw the ball in KP’s direction. He had just released on a route. I thought I was going to be okay with the grounding part. Obviously, that wasn’t the case.”

Now, that’s where things get tricky. The rulebook clearly states that defenses simulating a snap count can be hit with a 15-yard penalty for using “disconcerting signals.” But inside a full Gillette Stadium, catching that is not a simple task for the refs. It’s a mix of sound, energy, and chaos. And not just Penix, head coach Raheem Morris also took a jab at the Patriots.

“They did a nice job. They simulated a snap. The ball came early, was snapped early. Within that snap, that was when we got the intentional grounding. Nice job by those guys. Great situational football. Great play. Got to snap the ball. That’s why the ball was snapped early on Mike. He wasn’t ready for the snap.”

The question is, did the Patriots really commit that penalty?

Patriots Star addressed Raheem Morris’ accusations

Looking back at the tape, four defensive linemen are down in their stance, hands planted. No one looked like they were signaling anything. Robert Spillane, Jahlani Tavai, and Marte Mapu, ready, were positioned behind them. As reporter Mark Daniels pointed out, there was no visible clap or movement that hinted at mimicking the count.

Then came the man who actually brought the pressure. The Patriots’ defensive tackle Milton Williams didn’t hold back when asked about the claim.

“Who was clapping? Did it look like I was clapping? I’m going to go watch and see who was clapping,” Williams said. “I didn’t hear no clapping. I’m looking at the ball. The ball moves, I’m gone.”

“I think both their guard were out. I think their communication might’ve been off. One of them probably tapped him or something. I’m going off the ball. I’m down, ready to go, so when he snaps it, I’m gone.”

In other words, he believed the Falcons simply misfired. Whatever really went down, there was no flag. The officials let it play out. So what’s your take on the whole incident?