In the closing minutes of Sunday afternoon’s game between the New Orleans Saints and the San Francisco 49ers, the 49ers’ Ahmad Brooks was penalized for this hit on Drew Brees.

Brees fumbled the ball on the play and the 49ers’ Patrick Willis recovered, but the personal foul penalty overturned the fumble and gave the Saints back the ball.

It’s a tough call. Brooks appears to wrap Brees around the shoulders at first (causing Brees’ neck to extend like a cartoon turtle), but he then reaches up towards the neck as he finishes the tackle. It could be called both ways, but with the way the NFL has committed to protecting the quarterback, it shouldn’t surprise anyone that it was flagged.

John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports

The Saints won the game 23-20.

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