The game between the Buffalo Bills and the Baltimore Ravens in Week 8 was supposed to be one of the most anticipated matchups of the entire season. And with Lamar Jackson returning from injury, it looked like it might live up to that billing.

But early in the game, a particularly brutal play from Roquan Smith caught everyone’s attention. Some fans on social media went so far as to argue that the veteran linebacker was trying to intentionally injure their quarterback, Josh Allen.

Roquan Smith Gets Flamed for Move on Josh Allen

On the first drive of the game, the Bills marched down the field. Right at the edge of the end zone, they tried to score a touchdown using a tush push. Allen lined up behind center for the play, and after getting stopped on 3rd down, he was able to convert on the next snap.

But as Allen scored, fans zeroed in on what appeared to be a facemask grab by Smith, who ranks 15th on PFN’s LB Impact Metric with an 82.5 grade. As he was coming down after leaping for the score, Smith appeared to pull at his face mask. Whether intentional or inadvertent, fans were sure it was the former.

“Dear @NFL, Last time the Ravens played the Bills, Roquan Smith dove at a helmetless Josh Allen, who was lying on the turf after a play,”one fan reminded. “He tried to seriously injure him, and you did nothing.”

As a result, the fan believed another attempt of a similar kind deserved consequences, arguing, “This is your 2nd chance to get it right and suspend him before he seriously injures someone. THIS WAS 100% INTENTIONAL!!!!”

Others joined in the train against Smith, as one fan added, “Multiple times @nfl… @RoquanSmith58 has done this. He should be removed from the league.”

Another fan claimed, “Roquan Smith has always been the dirtiest player in the league,” while another demanded, “Should be banned for life.”

In his career, Smith has been fined multiple times during his career for player-safety violations, including an $11,941 facemask fine earlier this season. But he has never faced a suspension or disqualification from any game throughout his career.

One fan believed Smith had “intent to injure,” as another fan compared, “Dirty [expletive]… he’s Vontaze Burfict all over again.”

Burfict was a Cincinnati Bengals linebacker known for his aggressive, often controversial style of play. He accumulated 22 games’ worth of suspensions during his career, including a 12-game suspension in 2019 that ultimately marked the end of his NFL playing career.

While Smith hasn’t faced or been accused of anything close to those repercussions, the face mask pull on Allen could lead to major consequences for the veteran Ravens star.