On Dec. 5, the Detroit Lions and Green Bay Packers played on “Thursday Night Football.” The Lions won 34-31 in a closely played game. There were many great moments in the game, but there were still some questionable calls and no calls.

At one point, referees were called out after Packers quarterback Jordan Love, while running out of the pocket, was hit in the face by Lions defensive end Za’Darius Smith’s forearm.

The play went unflagged, and the game continued, but the NFL went back to review the play and decided that Smith would be fined $6,722 for “roughing the passer.”

The NFL fined #Lions DE Za’Darius Smith $6,722 for roughing the passer (blow to the head/neck) last week.

Smith hit #Packers QB Jordan Love in the head. No flag was thrown. pic.twitter.com/Gbuumi25Rw — Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) December 14, 2024

This seems like a clear case where the league is admitting to making a mistake by not throwing a flag, and the next best solution to have some kind of punishment is a fine.

If you’re familiar with Smith’s career path, you’d know that he spent three years with the Packers after they signed him as a free agent in 2019, and he made it clear he enjoys being able to beat them.

After the game, while speaking with sideline reporter Stacey Dales, Smith said, “I came to Detroit and got my revenge.”

This is Smith’s third team in the NFC North. Following his time in Green Bay, he played one year with the Minnesota Vikings.