Bills' misery saves NFL from another headache
Another postseason, another disappointing loss for the Buffalo Bills. And, it was to the Kansas City Chiefs – the same team that has ended Buffalo's Super Bowl hopes for three out of the past four seasons.This latest loss was another heartbreaker that echoes across multiple generations thanks to kicker Tyler Bass' "wide-right" field goal attempt […]
Another postseason, another disappointing loss for the Buffalo Bills. And, it was to the Kansas City Chiefs – the same team that has ended Buffalo's Super Bowl hopes for three out of the past four seasons.
This latest loss was another heartbreaker that echoes across multiple generations thanks to kicker Tyler Bass' "wide-right" field goal attempt that ultimately sealed the Bills' fate.
Before the miss, the game was anchored by the controversial rule stating if an offense fumbles the ball through the end zone, it is deemed a touchback and therefore, possession is handed over to the opposing team and they start a new drive at their own 20.
Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes hit wide receiver Mecole Hardman for what looked to be a touchdown pass, but Hardman fumbled the ball through the end zone and the Bills were given an extra possession. The play stemmed from Buffalo's failed fake punt on 4th and 5 from its own 30 and the Chiefs had a chance to go up bypass 10-points with a little more than 12 minutes left in the game.
Instead, the Bills received new life and avoided the double-digit deficit, altogether.
But, as we all know, they couldn't take advantage of the break. And as a result, the Bills' failure saved the NFL from another offseason debate centered around a potential rule change.
We all know how the epic 42-36 overtime game back in the 2021 playoffs set the stage for new overtime rules, but the fumble-through-the-endzone rule is a lot more complicated and harder to hash out. It's one of those debates that should provide some kind of solution, but all it provides are endless arguments that eventually run in circles.
Below is the best way to describe why the rule is the way it is:
There's the field of play, and the end zones. Each team owns an end zone, swapping each quarter. No team owns the field of play. When you fumble the ball no one is in possession at that point, and it is a live ball. If you fall on it and maintain possession it becomes your ball whether you were on offense or defense when it was fumbled. If you fumble out of bounds in the field of play no one owns the ball at that point, so by default it goes back to the team who possessed it last since the field of play is neutral.
If you fumble through my end zone the ball is no longer possessed by either team, but by default goes to the team that owns that end zone. It makes perfect sense. No one possesses the live ball and it needs to go somewhere, so it defaults to whomever owns that end zone.
The rule makes sense and it needs to stay in place. It's unfortunate, but the Chiefs' winning the game hopefully means there won't be any need for change. It seems like the NFL has had to figure out or make a new substantial rule every offseason for a while now, so I'm sure any kind of "down time" is much appreciated, on its end.
Josh Allen shares odd exchange with Travis Kelce after loss
Shared some words.
