New England should of kicked off out of bounds

kicked off at the 35 ravens get the ball at the 5 or where it went out why did the Patriots let up and give them the ball at the 20

Kickoff

1. <LI _extended="true">In addition to a kickoff, the other free kick is a kick after a safety (safety kick). A punt may be used (a punt may not be used on a kickoff). <LI _extended="true">On a safety kick, the team scored upon puts ball in play by a punt, dropkick, or placekick without tee. No score can be made on a free kick following a safety, even if a series of penalties places team in position. (A field goal can be scored only on a play from scrimmage or a free kick after a fair catch.) <LI _extended="true">A kickoff may not score a field goal. <LI _extended="true">A kickoff is illegal unless it travels 10 yards OR is touched by the receiving team. Once the ball is touched by the receiving team or has gone 10 yards, it is a free ball. Receivers may recover and advance. Kicking team may recover but NOT advance UNLESS receiver had possession and lost the ball. <LI _extended="true">When a kickoff goes out of bounds between the goal lines without being touched by the receiving team, the ball belongs to the receivers 30 yards from the spot of the kick or at the out-of-bounds spot unless the ball went out-of-bounds the first time an onside kick was attempted. In this case, the kicking team is penalized five yards and the ball must be kicked again. <LI _extended="true">When a kickoff goes out of bounds between the goal lines and is touched last by receiving team, it is receiver’s ball at out-of-bounds spot.
2. If the kicking team either illegally kicks off out of bounds or is guilty of a short free kick on two or more consecutive onside kicks, receivers may take possession of the ball at the dead ball spot, out-of-bounds spot, or spot of illegal touch.

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wow nice catch never thought of that

True, the local guys mentioned that earlier in the week on sports radio. Who knows if the refs would even have known the rule off the top of their heads (Pats coaches didn't), everyone is so used to placing the ball at the 40 yard line, it would not have surprised me if the refs had to huddle for 5 minutes and look at a rulebook to get the call right.

I didn't think of that, but I was thinking that maybe he would pop the ball up and force the Ravens to make a fair catch at the 5 or the 10.

You can always force them to move back 5 yards and re-kick.

cincy_ said:

You can always force them to move back 5 yards and re-kick.

Click to expand...

Not true. Read the rule again. Only penalized 5 yards if it's an onside kick. If the ball is just kicked out of bounds, your only options are to take the ball where it went out of bounds or 30 yards from the spot of the kickoff.