ausbacker

Kick the ball through the end zone and this play is redundant. Simple solution to a simple problem.

ctpatsfan77

An interesting note: the rule actually gives the opposing team the ball 25 yards from the original KO spot.

When the KO was at the 30, the rule gave the opposing team the ball 30 yards from the original KO spot—that is, still at their own 40.

This is actually related to the Ratbirds meltdown of 2007—when Gostkowski kicked from BAL 35, if he had kicked out of bounds it would have given them the ball at the BAL 5.

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"Momentum was quickly snatched away by New England, who once again proved that any Patriot, at any moment, can make a play." —Inside the NFL, Packers v. Patriots

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vuudu

I think you may not be reading the rule in its entirety. There is an 'or' part which states that the ball can be placed at the out of bounds point, so unless Gost had kicked it out of bounds 5 or less yds, then we would have had this advantage. But we could have gotten them under 20 though since I am sure he could have aimed that much out. I hope it makes sense. Not going to read what I have written.

VrabelJr

Leon Washington did this same thing a few years ago when he was on the Jets. It's a legit rule.

ctpatsfan77

Yeah, that's true: it is (now) 25 yards or the actual spot the ball went out.

I just went with the simpler version. I still think the Pats should have gone for the onside kick.

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BoTown

The key to this is that the player is already out of bounds when he makes first contact. He couldn't pick it up inbounds and make a dash for it out of bounds and have the rule apply.

Calhoun44

I wonder why this isn't considered an illegal touch? First to touch after being out of bounds.

Palm Beach Pats Fan

If he had stepped out and then came back in-bounds to field the ball, it would have been. The key was to still be out of bounds while controlling the ball.

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serifyn

The Patriots have done this before, i can remember at least one occasion where a smart patriots special teamer did this and i remember it from then.

Plays like this is why you invest in a good gunner, if you can get there, or nearly there before the balls drops, it forces the punt returner to either fair catch it or let it go.

It would be an incredibly risky play to touch the ball so close to the goal line with a gunner barreling down at you, it could potentially result in a touchdown for the kicking team. If you remember the 49ers playoff game in the NFC championship last year, the 49ers punt returner muffed the punt twice in the same game and ended up essentially costing the 49ers the game, Plays like this is why Belichick stresses the importance of field position and special teams.

If Matthew Slater was right on top of Cobb on this play, Cobb would have likely been forced to back off and let Slater down it at the 4, which is obviously a huge difference.

jcdavey

it's been done before, and it was praised last time too