By Moses Joshua 
Alex Anzalone’s Week 14 celebration turns expensive after postgame league review
A Costly Whistle After the Fact
The Detroit Lions escaped Week 14 with a statement win over the Dallas Cowboys, but linebacker Alex Anzalone didn’t walk away unscathed. On Saturday, the NFL announced it had fined Anzalone $17,968 for unnecessary roughness stemming from a second-quarter sequence that drew no flag on the field but caught the league’s attention afterward.
The infraction was categorized under “striking/kicking/tripping/kneeing,” a broad safety-related rule applied to contact delivered with a limb. It occurred with 6:28 remaining in the second quarter, moments after what initially looked like a momentum-shifting defensive play for Detroit.
How the Play Unfolded
Facing 3rd-and-21, Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott checked the ball down to tight end Jake Ferguson, who gained just four yards before being wrapped up by Amik Robertson and Jack Campbell. As Ferguson fought to stay upright, Campbell punched the ball loose, allowing safety Brian Branch to recover the fumble near midfield.
As Lions players celebrated the turnover, Anzalone sprinted in to join the moment. While throwing his arms into the air, his right arm made contact with the back of Cowboys rookie offensive guard Tyler Booker. Officials did not throw a flag, though replays show Booker reacting and appearing to seek a penalty.
The league later determined the contact warranted discipline, even in the absence of an in-game call.
A Familiar Entry on the Fine Ledger
According to Spotrac, this marks the sixth fine of Anzalone’s NFL career and his second this season. Earlier this year, following a Week 6 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs, Anzalone was fined $12,172 for fighting. In total, the veteran linebacker has now accumulated $93,190 in fines.
Despite the fine, Anzalone played a solid role in Detroit’s 44-30 victory, finishing the afternoon with seven tackles, four of them solo.
Not the Only Player Fined
While Anzalone was the only Lion disciplined from the game, he wasn’t alone in drawing league punishment. Cowboys running back Hunter Luepke was fined $8,537 for unnecessary roughness due to “use of helmet” on the opening kickoff. Wide receiver George Pickens also received an $11,593 fine for a facemask penalty late in the first half.
Additionally, Cowboys defensive end James Houston — a former Lions sixth-round pick in 2022 — was fined $5,722 for a hit on quarterback Jared Goff that was ruled a blow to the head or neck area.
For Detroit, the fine serves as a reminder that even celebratory moments can carry consequences — especially as the Lions push toward the postseason under the league’s increasingly strict safety standards.