Steratore: Leighton Vander Esch hit on Hayden Hurst was defenseless-receiver penalty

An official threw a flag on a hit by the Cowboys' Leighton Vander Esch on Bengals tight end Hayden Hurst during the fourth quarter of Sunday's game in Dallas, and Cincinnati fans expected the call to be unnecessary roughness for a hit on a defenseless receiver.

They picked up the flag.

CBS rules analyst Gene Steratore said he thought Vander Esch should have been penalized.

"What they look at is is he playing the ball?" Steratore said during the broadcast. "I felt Vander Esch made the hit without defending the ball. I would've supported a hit-on-a-defenseless-receiver call there.

"That's a tough one right there," CBS analyst Tony Romo added. "I feel like it's hard to tell. It looks like (a penalty)."

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This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Steratore: Vander Esch hit on Hayden Hurst should've been penalty