Hypothetical Rules Question - stopping the clock on lateral out of bounds

[Ice_Ice_Brady]

I haven’t seen this happen before, and I’m wondering if it would be illegal.

Let’s suppose that in the Vikings-Saints game, we are in the same situation with :10 seconds left and the Vikings are on their own 4o needing a FG to win and no time outs. The Saints are aligned in a prevent to force any completion away from the sideline, which would prevent the Vikings from getting another play should they complete the ball. In a designed play Diggs runs a sideline route to the Saints 30 and then breaks off a slant towards the middle of the field, catching the ball about 15 yards from the sideline with multiple defenders near him. There’s :04 on the live running clock. Diggs spins around then throws the ball backwards toward a trailing Theilen, who is positioned near the sideline at the 35 (five yards behind Diggs). Diggs throws/skips it errantly near Theilen’s feet on purpose, a purposefully failed backwards (lateral) pass that goes out of bounds with :01 remaining. Do the Vikings have the ball at the Saints 35 yard line with a chance for a game winning field goal? Or is there some kind of rule to prevent this? In essence, can a player purposefully fumble or lateral a ball out of bounds in order to stop the clock? And does it even matter if he’s lateraling it towards a player (there’s no intentional grounding for a backwards pass, right?)

 

[TBR]

10 second run-off plus a 5 yard penalty.

2017 NFL Rulebook | NFL Football Operations

Article 1. Illegal Acts
A team is not permitted to conserve time after the two-minute warning of either half by committing any of these acts:

1. a foul by either team that prevents the snap (i.e., false start, encroachment, etc.)
2. intentional grounding
3. an illegal forward pass thrown from beyond the line of scrimmage
4. throwing a backward pass out of bounds
5. spiking or throwing the ball in the field of play after a down has ended, except after a touchdown
6. any other intentional foul that causes the clock to stop.
   
   Penalty: For Illegally Conserving Time: Loss of five yards unless a larger distance penalty is applicable.
   
   When actions referred to above are committed by the offensive team while time is in, officials will run off 10 seconds from the game clock before permitting the ball to be put in play on the ready-for-play signal unless another rule prescribes otherwise. The game clock will start on the ready-for-play signal. If the offensive team has timeouts remaining, it will have the option of using a timeout in lieu of a 10-second runoff, in which case the game clock will start on the snap after the timeout. The defense always has the option to decline the 10-second runoff and have the yardage penalty enforced, but if the yardage penalty is declined, the 10-second runoff is also declined.
   
   If the action is by the defense, the play clock will be reset to 40 seconds, and the game clock will start on the ready signal, unless the offense chooses to have the clock start on the snap. If the defense has timeouts remaining, it will have the option of using a timeout in lieu of the game clock being started.
   
   Note 1: Two successive delay penalties during the same down, is unsportsmanlike conduct (12-3-1-o). After enforcement of the 15-yard penalty, the game clock shall start on the snap.
   
   Note 2: Certain acts of delay may involve stopping the game clock immediately. Repeated violations of the substitution rule to conserve time are unsportsmanlike conduct (12-3-1-l and 5-2).

 

[Palm Beach Pats Fan]

Rule 4-7-1
SECTION 7 ACTIONS TO CONSERVE TIME
ARTICLE 1. ILLEGAL ACTS.
A team is not permitted to conserve time inside of one minute of either half by committing any of these acts:
(a) a foul by either team that prevents the snap (i.e., false start, encroachment, etc.)
(b) intentional grounding;
(c) an illegal forward pass thrown from beyond the line of scrimmage; [note an intentional forward fumble is considered a forward pass]
(d) throwing a backward pass out of bounds;
(e) spiking or throwing the ball in the field of play after a down has ended, except after a touchdown; or
(f) any other intentional foul that causes the clock to stop.
Penalty: For Illegally Conserving Time: Loss of five yards unless a larger distance penalty is applicable.

When actions referred to above are committed by the offensive team while time is in, officials will run 10 seconds off the game clock before permitting the ball to be put in play on the ready-for-play signal. The game clock will start on the ready-for-play signal. If the offensive team has timeouts remaining, it will have the option of using a timeout in lieu of a 10-second runoff, in which case the game clock will start on the snap after the timeout. The defense always has the option to decline the 10- second runoff and have the yardage penalty enforced, but if the yardage penalty is declined, the 10-second runoff is also declined.

 

[Ice_Ice_Brady]

Thanks @TBR and @Palm Beach Pats Fan

So, the the only option is Diggs laterals/throws the ball to Thielen, who catches it in bounds and then steps out.