During Week 9 of the NFL, three significant hits to the head of receivers resulted in penalties, raising questions about consistency in officiating. New Orleans Saints' Chris Olave suffered a concussion from a hit by Carolina Panthers' Xavier Woods, who received a 15-yard penalty. Similarly, Buffalo Bills' Keon Coleman was hit by Miami Dolphins' Jordan Poyer, also penalized.

Detroit Lions' Brian Branch was ejected for a similar infraction against Green Bay Packers' Bo Melton. The NFL's criteria for ejection include whether the hit was avoidable and if the player made an effort to mitigate contact. While Branch's hit was deemed flagrant, the other two were not, prompting discussions on the inconsistency of officiating.