November 13, 2001

 

MONDAY NIGHT FINISH – RULE EXPLAINED

 

Last night’s 16-10 Baltimore victory over Tennessee concluded with a tackle of Titans quarterback STEVE MC NAIR on the one-yard line.  Following is a recap of the final two plays and the rules explanation:

On a third down-and-six from the Baltimore six-yard line with 14 seconds remaining, McNair completed a pass to wide receiver KEVIN DYSON.  Dyson was tackled on the one-yard line with the clock running. 

The Titans hurried to the line of scrimmage.  McNair took the snap with three seconds remaining and dove in for what appeared to be a touchdown.

However, prior to the snap, Baltimore linebacker PETER BOULWARE, attempting to get back onside, made contact with McNair before reaching his side of the line of scrimmage.  Referee BERNIE KUKAR ruled that Boulware was offside. This penalty could not be declined because it occurred prior to the snap, meaning that there was no play.

Here is the rule explanation provided by NFL Director of Officiating MIKE PEREIRA:

According to Rule 4, Section 3, Article 9 of the 2001 Official Rule Book of the NFL, "During the last two minutes of a half, once the ball has been respotted for the succeeding down ... the Umpire, upon signal from the referee, is to step away from the ball. At this point, a snap may be made. If the ball is snapped before all members of the defensive team have taken their proper position on the line of scrimmage, play is to be stopped immediately and that team penalized five yards for offside."

There are two situations for defensive offsides in this scenario:

1. If the defense is not going to make it back to the line of scrimmage before the snap, the officials are to stop the play and call offsides on the defense.

2. Or, if a defensive player, while attempting to get to his side of the line of scrimmage before the snap, makes contact with an offensive player, the officials are to stop play and penalize the defense for encroachment. That contact kills the play before the ball is snapped.  This is what happened on the play in question on Monday night.

Q: Were the Titans lined up in an illegal formation?

Pereira: Yes they were, but illegal formation is not a foul until the ball is snapped.  Once the defensive contact was made with the offense, the play was dead so there was no penalty on the Titans in this situation.

“The interpretation of the call by rule is correct,” Titans head coach Jeff Fisher said after the game.  Fisher is a member of the NFL Competition Committee.