The Blocked Punt

[CalPolyTechnique]

I heard a lot of confusion (and crying) about the blocked punt that somehow turned into a first down for the Broncos.

The refs made the right call.

Think of the blocked punt no different than a muffed kick. In fact, if it makes it easier to understand imagine if the Cowboys player only got a piece of the ball and the punt still traveled 25-30 yards down the field and then Cedric Wilson or Lamb tried to return it but bobbled the ball and the Broncos recovered. That's first down Denver.

There's no conspiracy.

The fact the Broncos recovered it behind the 1st down marker has ZERO relevance to the play.

 

[MountaineerCowboy]

It's a stupid rule, but it was the right call.

 

[cowboysfan99]

It was the right call, but an idiotic rule that needs to be changed. They should at least have to get beyond the 1st down marker.

 

[iamliko22]

Bad play..bad luck.. bad everything today. Don't feel like refs were as bad as they've been and this game wasn't even close. Crazy day.

 

[HungryLion]

Yeah the call was correct.

the rule is dumb.

it rewards a team that failed to get a first down, got their punt blocked and it allows them to keep the ball based on lucky bounces.

Correct call.

awful rule.

reminds me of the tuck rule.

 

[CalPolyTechnique]

It's a stupid rule, but it was the right call.

Why is it stupid?

If the receiving team touches the ball past the line of scrimmage it's a live ball. There's literally ZERO difference whether it's 10 yards past the LOS or 50 yards.

 

[RustyBourneHorse]

It was the right call, but an idiotic rule that needs to be changed. They should at least have to get beyond the 1st down marker.

Exactly, the rule is the rule. It's stupid, but it's a rule.

 

[Aven8]

Idiotic rule

 

[Jake]

It's a stupid rule, but it was the right call.

A muffed punt is a muffed punt, whether it's 2 yards downfield or 60.

Nothing stupid about it.

 

[Whyjerry]

I heard a lot of confusion (and crying) about the blocked punt that somehow turned into a first down for the Broncos.

The refs made the right call.

Think of the blocked punt no different than a muffed kick. In fact, if it makes it easier to understand imagine if the Cowboys player only got a piece of the ball and the punt still traveled 25-30 yards down the field and then Cedric Wilson or Lamb tried to return it but bobbled the ball and the Broncos recovered. That's first down Denver.

There's no conspiracy.

The fact the Broncos recovered it behind the 1st down marker has ZERO relevance to the play.

It’s a bad rule though.

 

[Canada180]

The right call was made as far as the rule goes.
But thats a downright dumb rule.
Dallas makes a great play in blocking the kick. That doesnt happen often in any game.
Dallas never had possession of the ball.
Denver never made it to the first down line. How do they get rewarded for friggin up a punt and then not advancing to the first down line?
Thats a crazy azz rule

 

[RustyBourneHorse]

The refs were on point today in all honesty. Wright basically did a Leon Lett.

 

[darthseinfeld]

I heard a lot of confusion (and crying) about the blocked punt that somehow turned into a first down for the Broncos.

The refs made the right call.

Think of the blocked punt no different than a muffed kick. In fact, if it makes it easier to understand imagine if the Cowboys player only got a piece of the ball and the punt still traveled 25-30 yards down the field and then Cedric Wilson or Lamb tried to return it but bobbled the ball and the Broncos recovered. That's first down Denver.

There's no conspiracy.

The fact the Broncos recovered it behind the 1st down marker has ZERO relevance to the play.

Just a strange play. So obscure I dont necessarily blame the players for not having situational awareness. I mean when has that ever happened.

But if it happened to Giants, you know Roger's buddy Mara would get the call!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[pansophy]

It was the right call, but an idiotic rule that needs to be changed. They should at least have to get beyond the 1st down marker.

If they blocked the punt and it didn't make it past the line of scrimmage then they would have had to make a first down. If we tipped the punt and it still went 50 yards, and our player muffed it and Denver got it no one would be complaining.

So what do you think the rule should be if not the line of scrimmage that the punt has to get past for it to be considered a punt? It's the most sensible rule, we were just unfortunate the ball only went a few yards past the line of scrimmage and our guy thought he could grab it. If you want to be mad, be mad at the player who lept in the air to try to field the punt. He should have left it alone and it would have been our ball.

 

[JonesBoys]

It's a stupid rule, but it was the right call.

Horrible rule. Now if they pick it up and run it past the first down marker than yes first down. That makes sense.

 

[BourbonBalz]

I heard a lot of confusion (and crying) about the blocked punt that somehow turned into a first down for the Broncos.

The refs made the right call.

Think of the blocked punt no different than a muffed kick. In fact, if it makes it easier to understand imagine if the Cowboys player only got a piece of the ball and the punt still traveled 25-30 yards down the field and then Cedric Wilson or Lamb tried to return it but bobbled the ball and the Broncos recovered. That's first down Denver.

There's no conspiracy.

The fact the Broncos recovered it behind the 1st down marker has ZERO relevance to the play.

It’s a blatantly stupid rule that penalizes the team that made a great play. There’s simply no excuse for a rule that dumb.

 

[loublue22]

A muffed punt is a muffed punt, whether it's 2 yards downfield or 60.

Nothing stupid about it.

it's hardly the same when the ball is deflected

 

[Praxit]

..that was the play that doomed Dallas. Fate was instilled.

 

[Alweezy]

I heard a lot of confusion (and crying) about the blocked punt that somehow turned into a first down for the Broncos.

The refs made the right call.

Think of the blocked punt no different than a muffed kick. In fact, if it makes it easier to understand imagine if the Cowboys player only got a piece of the ball and the punt still traveled 25-30 yards down the field and then Cedric Wilson or Lamb tried to return it but bobbled the ball and the Broncos recovered. That's first down Denver.

There's no conspiracy.

The fact the Broncos recovered it behind the 1st down marker has ZERO relevance to the play.

The fact that you don't have to get a 1st down needs to be adjusted. What if someone blocks the punt, and it hits off of someone's leg? Now all of a sudden it's an automatic first down for the punting team?

I'm not sure what the football move the rule is protecting in that instance.

 

[Plankton]

It's a stupid rule, but it was the right call.

It's the Leon Lett play. Same rule applies on a punt as does a field goal that's blocked.