If a Punt Is Blocked Can It Be Punted Again

The Seattle Seahawks were trailing xvi-seven in the third quarter of their Th nighttime game matchup confronting the Los Angeles Rams and were forced to punt deep into their own territory.

Seahawks punter Michael Dickson had his punt blocked and deflected. He chased it down, scooped it, and attempted to run upfield for a first down. He ran out of infinite to venture in and paused before shanking a punt that would net over 60 yards and exist downed within the Rams' 20.

Everyone was stunned by the bizarre punt and was confused on whether it was a legal play past the Seahawks. At that place may not have been another "double punt" in the Super Bowl Era and the average fan wasn't aware of any official ruling.

Officials discussed it at length and ruled information technology an eligible play, making it ane that will go down in history. The Seahawks may have lost the game to the Rams, but this play alone volition eclipse the news of their loss.

NFL Punt Rules: Tin you advance a blocked punt?

The "double punt" may have been chosen a legal play by officials, simply was information technology legal through the official rulebook? Referees don't always get the telephone call right on the field and could take been caught off baby-sit with this one and had to work on the fly.

The answer to this question is yes.

Punter Michael Dickson was able to pick up his blocked kicking and endeavour another 1 on the same play. At that place is an actual ruling in the NFL rulebook for blocked punts and second punt attempts.

The dominion states that a blocked punt can be picked up and avant-garde for a showtime down.

It tin can also be kicked over again as long as the ball does not cross the line of scrimmage in the process. The rule specifies that it has to be the punter and it tin can't be another player. The punter must besides not cantankerous the line of scrimmage during his 2nd try.

Another business organisation was that nearly of the boot team was downfield at the fourth dimension of the second kick. The ruling allows the unabridged kick team to be downfield in this situation.

After a punt that does not cross the line of scrimmage, the kicking team may also pass or run for a start down in addition to punting once again. The rules do non preclude a punter from kicking out to a gunner behind the LOS, who can accelerate or even laissez passer the brawl

10:49 AM · Oct 7, 2021

After a punt that does not cross the line of scrimmage, the boot team may also pass or run for a commencement downwards in addition to punting again. The rules do not preclude a punter from kicking out to a gunner behind the LOS, who can advance or fifty-fifty pass the brawl

It's a weird rule, but it's a legit one. Michael Dickson may accept known about the rules, or he may accept just gone off instinct and gotten rid of the ball.

NFL Punt Rules: Seahawks' double punt should accept been flagged illegal

While a double punt is legal, Dickson's second kicking should accept been flagged.

NFL punt rules advise that a 2nd punt cannot exist attempted from beyond the line of scrimmage. On the Seahawks' double punt, the line of scrimmage was roughly effectually the dwelling squad's 21-yard line.

As evidenced from the image in a higher place, Dickson was by the 21-1000 line when he attempted his 2nd kick on the play and hence, it should have been flagged illegal. The chaos ensured the Seahawks got away with what would have been a huge penalization that would take seen the Rams get the ball back in the scarlet zone.

In the end, information technology didn't matter equally the Rams won 26-17 to improve to 4-1.