Image source: AP Photo/Charles Krupa
New England Patriots linebacker Christian Elliss is getting a lot of attention this week — and not the good kind. The NFL is reviewing two hard hits he made during Monday night’s game against the New York Giants, and many people are wondering if the league will hand out punishment.
The biggest moment came in the second quarter. Giants returner Gunner Olszewski took a strong helmet-to-helmet hit from Christian Elliss. The impact was so heavy that it chipped the paint off Olszewski’s helmet and sent him to the sideline. Even with all that, the referees didn’t throw a flag, which surprised fans, players, and analysts watching the game.
ESPN’s Linda Cohn even spoke out online, asking how a hit like that didn’t draw a penalty. Many viewers agreed with her, saying the league talks a lot about “player safety,” yet dangerous hits like this still go unpunished.
This isn’t the first time something like this has happened recently. In Week 13, Broncos rookie quarterback Bo Nix took a helmet-to-helmet hit from Commanders linebacker Frankie Luvu. Again, no flag. At the same time, other players around the league have been fined tens of thousands of dollars for similar hits. That inconsistency is frustrating many fans.
But the Olszewski hit wasn’t the only reason Christian Elliss made headlines. Later in the game, he delivered another big hit — this time on Giants rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart. Dart was running near the sideline, trying to get a first down, when Elliss hit him and sent him flying out of bounds. Giants tight end Theo Johnson immediately confronted Elliss, and players from both sides got involved.
After the game, Christian Elliss defended himself. He said he thought Dart was staying in bounds and that he was simply finishing the play. “Make sure to slide,” Elliss said. “We play hard on defense. I was just doing my job.”
Even so, his comments didn’t calm things down. Giants fans are still angry, and many believe Christian Elliss should be punished. Now everyone is waiting to see what the NFL will decide and whether the league will back up its message about keeping players safe — especially as the season heads into its final stretch.
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