The Falcons forced a Patriots punt while trailing 24-23 with 3:30 left in Sunday’s game, but an intentional grounding penalty on quarterback Michael Penix helped keep them from driving for a go-ahead score.

The penalty came on a second-and-10 near midfield when Penix received a snap earlier than he expected and immediately threw the ball to the ground short of the line of scrimmage. After the game, Penix said he was trying to throw it near tight end Kyle Pitts and that center Ryan Neuzil told him that the Patriots simulated the snap count ahead of the early snap.

“Yeah, supposedly. Supposedly they were clapping,” Penix said, via a transcript from the Patriots. “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

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