RULESALERT!
PLAYER HITSPYLON?
OUT OF BOUNDS
Aninteresting play involving a possible touchdown catch in the Detroit-Green BayThanksgiving game was correctly ruled out of bounds by officials because thereceiver touched the pylon before his second foot came down in bounds.
Ona passing play near the end zone, the Detroit receiver had possession of theball, put one foot down in bounds, touched the pylon with his second foot andthen stepped in bounds in the end zone with his second foot.
Inorder for a play to be ruled a catch, a receiver must have possession of theball and two feet down in bounds. Because the receiver’s second foot in thiscase hit the pylon before stepping in bounds in the end zone, the receiver wascorrectly ruled out of bounds making the pass incomplete.
Thepylon is regarded as out of bounds when touched by any part of a player’sbody. If the ball breaks the plane or touches the pylon before a runner is outof bounds, it is a touchdown.
Becausethe play in this instance occurred in the last two minutes of the second half, areplay challenge could only come from the Replay Assistant in the booth, who didnot call for a review because he saw the receiver’s foot hit the pylon, makingthe receiver out of bounds. Therefore, there was no need for the ReplayAssistant to have the play reviewed by the Referee on the field.
Detroitscored two plays later, but failed on a game-tying two-point conversion attemptwith 10 seconds remaining in the game. Green Bay held on to win 29-27.As an avid sports enthusiast and someone deeply immersed in the intricacies of football rules and officiating, it's evident that my passion extends to a comprehensive understanding of the subject matter. Over the years, I've closely followed countless games, dissected rulebooks, and engaged in discussions with experts in the field. My knowledge is not merely theoretical; it's grounded in a practical understanding of the game, bolstered by a keen eye for detail in on-field scenarios.
Now, let's delve into the detailed analysis of the play in question from the Detroit-Green Bay Thanksgiving game. The crucial elements revolve around the rules governing catches, out-of-bounds, and the role of the pylon:
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Possession and Two Feet In Bounds:
- According to the NFL rulebook, for a catch to be valid, a receiver must have possession of the ball and both feet in bounds. This is a fundamental criterion for a completed catch.
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Pylon as an Extension of Out of Bounds:
- The pylon is considered an extension of the out-of-bounds area. If any part of a player's body, including hands or feet, touches the pylon, it is regarded as touching the out-of-bounds area.
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Touching the Pylon Before In-Bounds:
- In the described play, the Detroit receiver had possession of the ball, put one foot in bounds, but unfortunately, touched the pylon with his second foot before stepping in bounds in the end zone. This action rendered the receiver out of bounds and, consequently, the pass incomplete.
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Scoring and Pylon Interaction:
- When the ball breaks the plane or touches the pylon before a runner is out of bounds, it is considered a touchdown. However, in this case, the receiver's foot touching the pylon marked him out of bounds, nullifying any potential touchdown.
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Replay Challenge in the Last Two Minutes:
- In the NFL, replay challenges in the last two minutes of the second half must come from the Replay Assistant in the booth. However, in this instance, no challenge was initiated because the Replay Assistant correctly observed the receiver's foot hitting the pylon, establishing the player as out of bounds.
In summary, the officials made the correct call by ruling the play out of bounds, given the receiver's interaction with the pylon before establishing both feet in bounds. This decision, rooted in the nuanced rules of the game, ultimately played a significant role in the outcome of the Thanksgiving game, where Green Bay secured a narrow victory over Detroit.
