Why can’t NFL players hold on to the ball before they score touchdowns? | NFL

With 3:16 left within the third quarter of the Bengals’ 37-27 win over the Titans, Tennessee working again Tony Pollard fumbled, and the ball was recovered by Cincinnati security Jordan Battle. Battle had a transparent lane to the tip zone and a 61-yard landing, however he as a substitute determined to have fun his landing earlier than it occurred, dropping the ball earlier than he crossed the goalline. The ball went out of the tip zone, which meant that the landing was as a substitute a touchback, and the Titans bought the ball again at their very own 20-yard line.

Not that the Titans had been capable of do something with that extra alternative, given their putrid passing sport, however why achieve this many gamers – a few of the greatest athletes on the planet – neglect tips on how to maintain on to a ball when close to the goalline?

As we moved from the early to the late slate of video games on Sunday, Indianapolis Colts working again Jonathan Taylor – whose job is to run whereas holding a ball – pulled the same goof-up that price his group a landing towards the Denver Broncos. Taylor was on his option to a 41-yard landing run within the third quarter. At first, it was known as a landing, however after assessment, it was dominated that Taylor dropped the ball earlier than he crossed the airplane. One other touchback, and the Broncos had the ball at their very own 20-yard line.

Additionally within the late slate, Arizona Cardinals receiver Greg Dortch dropped the ball simply earlier than he hit the tip zone towards the New England Patriots, however offensive deal with Jonah Williams was there to get well the fumble for his personal landing with 1:21 left within the first quarter. A simply reward for the massive man, however embarassing for Dortch.

This season alone, we have now two different examples of untimely celebration, or an incapacity to grasp the place one is on the sphere.

Atlanta Falcons tight finish Kyle Pitts – touted as a one of the vital gifted prospects in years when he was drafted in 2021 – had a landing all however tabulated in Week 8 towards the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, however he was not up on his ball safety, and allowed Bucs security Antoine Winfield Jr to knock it out of his arms. Pitts was bailed out by Shawn Hochuli’s officiating crew, who dominated that Pitts broke the airplane for a 49-yard rating, however replays instructed a unique story.

And rookie receiver Malachi Corley of the New York Jets had his first NFL landing in Week 9 towards the Houston Texans till he determined to make an enormous deal about it earlier than it occurred.

Soccer is usually a sophisticated sport, however generally the keys to victory are easy. Holding on to the ball till you really rating appears rudimentary, however primarily based on this season’s outcomes, maybe not.

Why do gamers preserve doing this once they’re coached to not at each the skilled and school ranges? There seems to be a need to make touchdowns look informal within the “ball-dropping” situations. As for the circumstances through which a defender pops the ball out earlier than the tip zone, that’s probably simply an consciousness flub.

In Corley’s case, the Jets’ coaches had really confirmed their gamers tape of the Pitts play the week earlier than as a preventive instance.

“So it’s positively on his radar,” Aaron Rodgers stated of Corley. “Nice play name, nice execution. The one factor I’d simply say to Malachi, and I stated this to him on the sideline: ‘Why would you ever even drop the ball? That’s your first landing. You have fun with that factor, you run to the sideline with that factor.’”

Otherwise you don’t, and also you undergo the implications.

MVP of the week

Lamar Jackson, QB, Baltimore Ravens. Sunday marked the one centesimal NFL sport for Jackson, and the two-time MVP made the a lot of the event. In Baltimore’s 35-14 demolition of the New York Giants, a win that took them to 9-5 on the season, Jackson was at his greatest. He accomplished 21 of 25 passes for 290 yards, 5 touchdowns, no interceptions and a passer score of 154.6. He additionally added 65 dashing yards on simply six carries.

For individuals who mistakenly nonetheless consider Jackson as a main working quarterback, contemplate this: Sunday’s win marked the sixth sport through which Jackson has thrown no less than 5 landing passes and no interceptions. Solely Tom Brady and Drew Brees have extra such video games with eight every.

The Ravens had gone on a 1-2 slide earlier than their Week 14 bye, and discuss of Jackson repeating his 2023 MVP win had been muted of late consequently. Maybe with a couple of extra performances like this, the voices on his aspect will turn out to be louder. Not even a wardrobe malfunction might cease him.

Video of the week

The Washington Commanders beat the New Orleans Saints 20-19 to take their file to 9-5, making certain the franchise’s first successful season since 2016. Jayden Daniels has been an enormous cause for the turnaround, and Daniels’ 16-yard landing move to Terry McLaurin within the first quarter confirmed almost each one of many rookie’s particular traits.

Per Subsequent Gen Stats, Daniels rolled round for 8.04 seconds earlier than discovering McLaurin ultimately zone. That’s the second time this season Daniels has held the ball for greater than eight seconds earlier than throwing a landing move. In all the NFL, there have been 5 different situations through which quarterbacks held on to the ball that lengthy earlier than throwing for a rating.

Stat(s) of the week

0 and 26. Whereas we desire to deal with video games with playoff implications this time of yr, we are able to’t in good conscience fail to cowl no matter it was that the aforementioned Bengals and Titans placed on the sphere in what was most likely the worst sport of the season. The 2 groups mixed for 10 turnovers and 26 penalties, the primary time within the Tremendous Bowl period that had occurred. The Bengals had 14 penalties for 113 yards, and the Titans had 12 for 110. Each groups fumbled twice and all 4 fumbles went to the opposite group. Joe Burrow threw two interceptions. The Titans’ Will Levis threw three picks earlier than he was benched for Mason Rudolph, who caught to the bit by throwing an interception of his personal. The 37-27 closing rating proves that not each unwatchable sport is a 6-3 closing.

Elsewhere across the league

— Sunday’s matchup between the 12-1 Detroit Lions and the 10-3 Buffalo Payments was the earliest in a season we’ve seen two groups with no less than 10 wins face one another because the San Francisco 49ers beat the Denver Broncos 34-17 in Week 16 of the 1997 season. And it was abundantly clear coming in that Lions-Payments could possibly be a Tremendous Bowl LIX preview.

In final Sunday’s 44-42 loss to the Los Angeles Rams that was each a barnburner and a heartbreaker, the Payments turned the primary group in NFL historical past to attain no less than six touchdowns and haven’t any takeaways … and lose. Josh Allen was the primary participant in NFL historical past to throw for 3 touchdowns and run for 3 touchdowns in the identical sport, and, yep … the Payments nonetheless misplaced. Allen turned the uncommon participant to amplify his personal MVP candidacy in defeat.

There’s at all times a hazard for the Payments in relying an excessive amount of on Allen to get issues finished, and the Rams loss was the newest instance of that. Partially as a result of the Rams bought out to leads of 17-7 and 31-14, Allen needed to put the group on his shoulders, and he almost pulled it off.

In opposition to the Lions, the Payments had the extra balanced offense we’ve seen way more usually this season. They ran a number of totally different run ideas at Detroit’s injury-depleted defensive fronts, and the Lions had few solutions.

And whereas Lions head coach Dan Campbell has been rightly praised for his clever aggression this season, one resolution on this sport damage his group badly. With 12 minutes left, and the Payments already up 38-28, Campbell known as for an onside kick, which Payments receiver Mack Hollins returned 38 yards to the Detroit five-yard line. One play later, Allen hit working again Ray Davis for a five-yard landing to place the sport out of attain.

As for the Payments, whereas this was a powerful win, that equally injury-depleted protection is an actual downside. That is the primary professional soccer group to each rating and permit greater than 40 factors in consecutive video games because the 1966 New York Giants.

–– For as soon as, the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs had been capable of win a sport that didn’t go all the way down to the previous few seconds.

Issues had been simpler (to a degree) for the Chiefs in a 21-7 win over the Cleveland Browns. Patrick Mahomes accomplished 19 of 38 passes for simply 159 yards, two touchdowns, no interceptions, and a passer score of 78.7. Hardly explosive, however adequate. The issue was Kansas Metropolis’s leaky move safety, because it has been all season lengthy. Mahomes wasn’t sacked as soon as towards the Browns, however he was hit and hurried again and again. With 8:01 left within the sport, Mahomes was pressured by two Cleveland defensive tackles – Michael Corridor and Dalvin Tomlinson – and was clearly uncomfortable with what the pressures did to his decrease physique.

Mahomes limped off the sphere and was changed by Carson Wentz for the remainder of the sport. Head coach Andy Reid relayed an preliminary prognosis of a excessive ankle sprain, and stated that Mahomes is week-to-week. The group may have a extra definitive image when Mahomes will get detailed assessments on Monday. Not that it’s ever an excellent time to lose Mahomes, however Kansas Metropolis have the Houston Texans at house subsequent Saturday, after which journey to Pittsburgh for a Christmas Day sport towards the Steelers. At 13-1, the Chiefs are nonetheless within the AFC’s pole place for house area benefit by way of the playoffs, however they’d clearly desire to maintain their respiration room.

–– Coming into Sunday’s essential sport towards the Pittsburgh Steelers, the Philadelphia Eagles needed to work out points with their passing sport. Jalen Hurts’ latest performances had instilled a stage of frustration that spilled out into public. After Philly’s 22-16 Week 15 win over the Carolina Panthers, receiver AJ Brown was requested what concerning the offense wanted to enhance. “Passing,” was his blunt reply.

That led to a predictable week of fuss among the many contentious Philadelphia sports activities media, and Hurts was left to reverse the narrative towards the robust Steelers protection. Hurts did his stage greatest, finishing 25 of 32 passes for 290 yards, two touchdowns, no picks, and a passer score of 125.3, and offensive coordinator Kellen Moore appeared to have a passing sport designed for probably the most half for Hurts’ particular attributes.

Hurts isn’t a full-field reader. He’ll go away throws on the desk to wide-open receivers and overthrow others consequently when the play extends too lengthy. Coming into this sport, a full 20% of Hurts’ dropbacks had lasted 4 seconds or extra, the best price within the NFL. That’s primarily a tribute to the Eagles’ excellent offensive line. The draw back is that every one that point appears to place too many choices in Hurts’ head, and possibility nervousness is the inevitable end result.

However towards the Steelers in a significant 27-13 win, Hurts appeared to get the ball out extra shortly with fewer progressions to learn by way of. He’s at his greatest when he’s capable of key on his first and second reads, use play-action and run-pass choices to connect the passing and dashing video games collectively, and complement the entire thing together with his personal skills as a runner. As Hurts additionally gained 45 yards and scored a landing on 15 carries, this was completely the form of offense Hurts will need to have so as to thrive.

Operating again Saquon Barkley and an important protection have stored the 12-2 Eagles afloat whereas Hurts labored out the kinks. If that is the offense we see by way of the remainder of the common season and into the playoffs, Philly will likely be as robust an out because the NFL has proper now.