I know what the rule is and I know what it's called, but what you are claiming isn't my argument. My argument is about enforcement when it comes to intent. Why is it incumbent on the refs to figure out whether or not the receiver ran the wrong route, at the point of the infraction, and therefore rely on the argument of the offense in defense of their penalty? You see I'm making a different argument, right? Of course the NFL can come out in hindsight and say "well, the QB expected someone to be there, so...." But that is irrelevant to the action on the field, when the penalty needs to be called (or not). He was being rushed and obviously didn't want a sack. He threw the ball to where Crowder was supposed to be, but he wasn't there. No one was there. A QB tossing a ball to an empty part of the field, in the pocket, with defenders on his neck is a pretty obvious grounding call.
I think 98% of people that know the rule can easily defend it being called on that play even if you accept (as I do), that it wasn't the QB's intent to throw it away. Think about the bullshit "tuck" and how it was called appropriately by the rule, even though it was clearly bullshit for anyone watching. 😀