View topic - The Penalty that Negated the Ravens' Early Touchdown.......

[StillDodger Profile]

This may sound like a stupid question, but why was the ball spotted at the original line of scrimmage, instead of 10 yards back? Someone here on another thread brought up the fact the ball was not spotted 10 yards back. I then checked the replay summary and confirmed it. (I missed that part of the game.)

Had the ball been spotted 10 yards back, and the Ravens ran the exact same plays (unlikely, but hypothetical), that drive would have been a "three and out" instead of a time consuming drive resulting in a field goal.

[BradshawsHairdresser Profile]

I might be wrong, but I believe the penalty was assessed from the spot of the foul, which just happened to be 10 yards downfield from the LOS. So the Ratbirds got 1st and 10 all over again, which doesn't seem quite right, but I think it's how the rule reads.

[SteelTank Profile]

You are correct sir. Holding is a spot foul and then 10 yards back when positive yards have been gained. So, a twenty yard gain would still net a first down with holding when the distance to get a first down was 10 yards or less.

The call I can't understand is Intentional grounding which is also a spot foul with loss of down. Still, there isn't any penalty yardage. So, really, there is no risk at all with intentional grounding because a sack at the spot would result in the same thing - Loss of down and the ball placed at the spot of the sack.

[napnewman Profile]

Thanks for clearing that up - I was at the game and there was no explanation of the penalty at all. It was really confusing.