could Commanders’ Repeated Offside Penalties Have Led to an Unprecedented Touchdown?
During Sunday’s NFC Championship game, the washington Commanders employed a daring tactic to disrupt the San Francisco 49ers’ “tush push” plays. Thier strategy involved repeatedly jumping offside, with linebacker Frankie Luvu twice leaping over the line of scrimmage before the snap.
The Commanders’ aggressive approach resulted in three offside penalties, prompting referee Shawn Hochuli to issue a warning. Intriguingly,Arbitrage officials possessed the authority to award a touchdown to the 49ers under the NFL’s rarely invoked “palpably unfair acts” rule.
Though never used before, this rule allows officials to award a score to the opposing team if a team’s actions are deemed “palpably unfair.” This obscure rule, on the books since at least 1942, has sparked discussion in recent years regarding several incidents that could have triggered its submission.
instances include the Houston Texans repeatedly going offside before a potential game-winning field goal against the Carolina Panthers in 2023,and Las Vegas Raiders cornerback Marcus Peters’ touchdown-saving horse-collar tackle against the Green Bay packers in the same year.
Other close calls involving the “palpably unfair acts” rule occurred when New england Patriots quarterback Mac Jones seemingly tripped Las Vegas Raiders pass rusher Chandler Jones on a game-winning fumble return in 2022, and when the Green Bay Packers intentionally jumped offside late in the 2020 NFC Championship game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
In a memorable 2013 Thanksgiving game, Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin’s sideline incursion disrupted a long kick return by Baltimore Ravens returner Jacoby Jones, raising the possibility of the rule’s application.
It remains unclear whether the officials would have awarded a touchdown to the Eagles after the Commanders’ fourth offside penalty. ultimately, the Eagles managed to snap the ball on the fourth attempt and scored.
What is the NFL’s “palpably unfair acts” rule, and how could it have applied to the Commanders’ offside penalties?
Could Commanders’ repeated Offside Penalties Have Led to an Unprecedented Touchdown?
During Sunday’s NFC Championship game, the washington Commanders employed a daring tactic to disrupt the San Francisco 49ers’ “tush push” plays. Thier strategy involved repeatedly jumping offside,with linebacker Frankie Luvu twice leaping over the line of scrimmage before the snap.
The Commanders’ aggressive approach resulted in three offside penalties, prompting referee Shawn Hochuli to issue a warning. Intriguingly, officials possessed the authority to award a touchdown to the 49ers under the NFL’s rarely invoked “palpably unfair acts” rule.
Though never used before, this rule allows officials to award a score to the opposing team if a team’s actions are deemed “palpably unfair.” This obscure rule, on the books since at least 1942, has sparked discussion in recent years regarding several incidents that could have triggered its submission.
instances include the Houston Texans repeatedly going offside before a potential game-winning field goal against the Carolina Panthers in 2023,and Las Vegas Raiders cornerback Marcus Peters’ touchdown-saving horse-collar tackle against the Green Bay packers in the same year.
other close calls involving the “palpably unfair acts” rule occurred when New England Patriots quarterback mac Jones seemingly tripped Las Vegas Raiders pass rusher Chandler Jones on a game-winning fumble return in 2022, and when the Green Bay Packers intentionally jumped offside late in the 2020 NFC Championship game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
In a memorable 2013 thanksgiving game, Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin’s sideline incursion disrupted a long kick return by Baltimore Ravens returner Jacoby Jones, raising the possibility of the rule’s submission.
It remains unclear whether the officials would have awarded a touchdown to the Eagles after the Commanders’ fourth offside penalty. Ultimately, the Eagles managed to snap the ball on the fourth attempt and scored.
Q&A
Q: What is the “palpably unfair acts” rule?
A: A rarely invoked NFL rule that allows officials to award a touchdown to the opposing team if a team’s actions are deemed “palpably unfair.”
Q: Has this rule ever been used?
A: No,the “palpably unfair acts” rule has never been used in an NFL game.
Q: What are some examples of incidents that could have triggered the rule?
A: Several incidents have sparked debate about the rule’s application, including repeated offside penalties, intentional late hits, and coach interference with plays.
Q: Would the Commanders’ repeated offside penalties have resulted in a touchdown under this rule?
A: It’s unclear. Ultimately, the officials would have made that decision based on the specific circumstances.
the “palpably unfair acts” rule remains a fascinating and rarely discussed aspect of NFL regulations. While its application is still hypothetical, it serves as a reminder of the league’s commitment to fair play and its willingness to address remarkable situations.
