Rarities – Quirky Research

Kickoffs recovered by the kicking team for a touchdown

by Ben Austro - December 9, 2018May 31, 2019 1

Once a kickoff goes 10 yards, it is anyone's ball. That is well known, but on a few occasions, the receiver either muffs the catch or forgets that it is a free ball, which leads to a touchdown. Most recently it occurred in the final game of the 2016 season

Double Overtimes and the NFL Playoff Overtime Rules

by Jeremy Snyder - January 12, 2018January 12, 2018 0

Differences between NFL regular season and postseason playoff rules: Regular Season Postseason Number of periods 1 unlimited Length of periods 10 minutes 15 minutes Timeouts per team 2 3 per 2-period "half" Timing rules 4th quarter 1st quarter for 1st overtime, etc. If the 1st overtime ends with the teams still tied ... The game ends in a tie. 2-minute break, switch sides of field typical of

NFL teams that never kicked off

by Jeremy Snyder - January 11, 2018January 11, 2018 0

In the 1986 NFC Championship game, the Giants won the coin toss and chose to play the first quarter with the 15-30 mph winds at their backs instead of receiving the opening kickoff. The Redskins failed to make a first down on their first two drives, neither punt made it

Quirky find: a 1951 palpably unfair act awarded 1 point

Rarities

by Jeremy Snyder - December 1, 2017 0

A palpably unfair act is loosely defined as an act by a player or team that far exceeds the bounds of sportsmanship, that the referee is empowered to make any equitable ruling necessary. It is a very rarely evoked provision of the rules. Toledo at Dayton, October 13, 1951 Dayton, up 20-0

NFL fair-catch kick attempts

After a fair catch, an NFL team has the right to take a free kick from the line of scrimmage on the next play. If the kick goes through the uprights, the kicking team scores 3 points. It is also known as a "free kick field goal." What special rules apply?

Palpably unfair acts

[Last updated 12/1/2017: Dayton extra point from 1951.] What happens when something obviously unfair yet not specifically covered by the rules happens during a football game? The palpably unfair act rule gives the referee full discretion to decide what should happen when such events occur, up to and including awarding one team

Another fair-catch kick found

NFL
Rarities

by Jeremy Snyder - February 1, 2011September 22, 2017 0

Sam Baker, Philadelphia vs. San Francisco, December 21, 1969. Wide from 46 yards near the end of the first half. (Baker's day also included an aborted extra point and two other missed field goals, including a potential game-winning 19-yarder with 59 seconds left. It turned out to be the last game of

More Fair Catch Kicks

NFL
Rarities

by Jeremy Snyder - September 15, 2009August 7, 2017 0

Near the end of regulation of Thursday's Titans-Steelers game, with the score tied and the Titans backed up by their own end zone, Al Michaels and Cris Collinsworth brought up the possibility of a fair catch kick. It didn't happen (there needed to be about 3 more seconds left

New fair catch kick attempt

NFL
Rarities

by Jeremy Snyder - November 23, 2008August 7, 2017 0

Neil Rackers, way off from 68 yards against the Giants. The history of fair catch kick attempts is detailed here.The list of long field goal misses is also updated.

Another fair catch kick attempt denied

NFL
Rarities

by Jeremy Snyder - September 25, 2006August 7, 2017 0

The Cardinals lined up for a potential game-winning fair catch kick yesterday, but an offsides call on the preceding punt ended that chance.News articles about the game were, as usual, not aware of the history of the play. The East Valley Tribune (Arizona) even cited Wikipedia's claim that "a