If a Punt Is Blocked Can It Be Punted Again

The Seattle Seahawks were abaft 16-7 in the third quarter of their Thursday night game matchup against the Los Angeles Rams and were forced to punt deep into their own territory.

Seahawks punter Michael Dickson had his punt blocked and deflected. He chased it downwardly, scooped information technology, and attempted to run upfield for a first down. He ran out of space to venture in and paused before shanking a punt that would internet over 60 yards and be downed within the Rams' 20.

Everyone was stunned past the bizarre punt and was confused on whether it was a legal play by the Seahawks. In that location may not take been some other "double punt" in the Super Bowl Era and the average fan wasn't aware of any official ruling.

Officials discussed information technology at length and ruled it an eligible play, making it one that volition go downward in history. The Seahawks may have lost the game to the Rams, but this play alone will eclipse the news of their loss.

NFL Punt Rules: Can y'all advance a blocked punt?

The "double punt" may have been chosen a legal play by officials, but was it legal through the official rulebook? Referees don't ever get the call right on the field and could take been caught off guard with this one and had to piece of work on the wing.

The respond to this question is aye.

Punter Michael Dickson was able to pick upward his blocked kicking and try another ane on the same play. There is an bodily ruling in the NFL rulebook for blocked punts and second punt attempts.

The dominion states that a blocked punt can be picked up and advanced for a first downwards.

It can also be kicked again as long as the ball does not cantankerous the line of scrimmage in the process. The rule specifies that it has to exist the punter and it tin't be some other player. The punter must also not cross the line of scrimmage during his second attempt.

Another concern was that most of the kicking squad was downfield at the fourth dimension of the second kicking. The ruling allows the unabridged kicking team to be downfield in this situation.

After a punt that does not cross the line of scrimmage, the kicking team may also pass or run for a start down in addition to punting over again. The rules do not preclude a punter from kicking out to a gunner behind the LOS, who tin can advance or even pass the ball

10:49 AM · October 7, 2021

Afterwards a punt that does not cross the line of scrimmage, the kick squad may also laissez passer or run for a commencement downwardly in add-on to punting once again. The rules do non preclude a punter from kicking out to a gunner behind the LOS, who can advance or even pass the ball

It's a weird rule, but it's a legit i. Michael Dickson may have known almost the rules, or he may have just gone off instinct and gotten rid of the ball.

NFL Punt Rules: Seahawks' double punt should have been flagged illegal

While a double punt is legal, Dickson's second kick should have been flagged.

NFL punt rules suggest that a second punt cannot be attempted from beyond the line of scrimmage. On the Seahawks' double punt, the line of scrimmage was roughly effectually the home team's 21-yard line.

As evidenced from the image above, Dickson was past the 21-chiliad line when he attempted his second boot on the play and hence, it should accept been flagged illegal. The chaos ensured the Seahawks got abroad with what would have been a huge penalization that would have seen the Rams go the ball dorsum in the red zone.

In the stop, information technology didn't matter as the Rams won 26-17 to amend to 4-ane.