Professional Football Researchers Association Forum

conace21 wrote:I didn't think they would blow the whistle in midplay. One of the only times I saw that was in the final 2 minutes of the Green Bay-Buffalo game. Rodgers was stripped of the ball, Eddie Lacy picked it up in the end zone and began a mad dash to get the ball out, but the refs blew the play dead. I was so excited, I didn't realize why...the Holy Roller rule.

Doesn't apply to OT, but the obvious time a 'play' is blown dead is turnovers on 2-pt conversion attempts (or blocked PAT's), wouldn't surprise anyone here when the play gets blown dead but always interesting how many players don't seem to know that they can't return it. Though I understand getting caught up in the game and instinct taking over, plus of course it's different in college. Usually fans in the stadium start getting louder and louder as the defensive player is running downfield with the ball thinking that it's getting returned, even though whistles are blowing.

The OT rules state that the game ends (immediately) on any TD or safety. Opportunity for both teams to possess does not occur in those cases.

For Team A to score TD on defense after Team A FG, Team A has to gain possession simultaneous with scoring TD as described in the 2nd post in this thread.
If Team A defense gains possession in field of play (not in end zone) game is over and any return does not happen (like NCAA OT, when defense is ahead and gains possession).

The scenario described at the end of post #2 describes only way to have a 1 pt. OT margin.

oldecapecod 11 wrote:A variation of the OP...

Team A scores via a FG

Team B botches the handling of the ensuing kick-off and winds up with possession on its own 1-yard line.
Team B fumbles the snap and Team A recovers IN THE END ZONE thus ending the possession and the game.

How can that not be 6 points?

Or Team B's QB throws a pass from inside the end zone. The pass is tipped and intercepted by Team A in the end zone.

I did check in on someone very highly placed for this very scenario for my book. Here is the definitive word:

A 1-point win is possible on a field goal by A; then fumble by B near A's end zone, which A muffs the recovery and makes the ball dead in their end zone (defensive safety against A). Game ends immediately.

A 9-point win is only possible when A scores a field goal and A recovers/intercepts IN THE END ZONE. Any change of possession in the field of play with a team trailing by 3 freezes the result of the game right there, although the play will be allowed to carry through. If there is a double change of possession, Team B will not win if they score a TD on the same play, because they already lost possession.

Possible OT margins of victory are 1 (with a lot of help), 2 (safety), 3 (FG), 5 (FG + safety), 6 (TD), 9 (FG + TD), and of course 0 for the regular season.

conace21 wrote:I didn't think they would blow the whistle in midplay. One of the only times I saw that was in the final 2 minutes of the Green Bay-Buffalo game. Rodgers was stripped of the ball, Eddie Lacy picked it up in the end zone and began a mad dash to get the ball out, but the refs blew the play dead. I was so excited, I didn't realize why...the Holy Roller rule.

To be technical, that's not blowing the whistle in mid-play. The ball was dead and the play was over, by rule.