The fumble rule dubbed “the worst in football” is once again in the headlines after Sunday night’s playoff game between the Buffalo Bills and Kansas City Chiefs.
During the 4th quarter, Chiefs receiver Mecole Hardman fumbled the ball as he was brought to the ground just short of a touchdown, with the ball bouncing into the end zone and then out of bounds.
This in turn resulted in a touchback and a turnover in favor of the Bills, whereas a fumble out of bounds anywhere else on the field other than the end zone would have seen Kansas retain possession at the point of the fumble.
Ultimately it didn’t matter as the Chiefs held on to beat the Bills, but given how incredibly tight the game was, there was a chance it could have proven a decisive moment.
And this also happened during the regular season to the Minnesota Vikings, with Justin Jefferson judged to have fumbled out of bounds through the end zone against the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 2 when the Vikings were down 10-7 and later lost the game.
#Eagles WR Devonta Smith instantly knew that Justin Jefferson’s fumble near the end zone was a touchback
He said that the play is gonna be on the “what not to do” tape 😬
(🎥: @NFLFilms)
pic.twitter.com/gLPoH5QO4f— JPAFootball (@jasrifootball) September 20, 2023
The incident sparked complaints about the rule then, and more complaints followed on Sunday night, with ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler going so far as to suggest the rule will be repealed in the offseason (presumably because it happened to NFL darlings the Chiefs).
Worst rule in football. @NFL needs to change that rule in the offseason. pic.twitter.com/PTAuOuUZD7
— Opening Drive (@openingdrive) January 22, 2024
Good chance the touchback rule for fumbling through the end zone will be changed this offseason. Momentum behind NFL correcting it. Penalty considered by many to be too harsh.
— Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) January 22, 2024
Ah!!! The worst rule in football strikes again. Gotta love the fumble through the end zone rule!
— Seth McKinney (@SethMcKinney) January 22, 2024
But as ever the delights of social media provides ample opportunity to disagree, with many in favor of keeping the rule as a punishment for teams that fail to protect the football so close to the end zone.
Some have also suggested a potential alternative so instead of a devastating turnover of possession, the fumbling team could instead be given a 10-yard penalty and a loss of down.
We’ll now have to keep an eye on rule changes in the offseason, with indications pointing towards an end to the rule.
Reminder:the end zone fumble touchback rule makes perfect sense. The field is the battlefield. End zones are a team's fort. An unaccompanied football rolling into a team's fort belongs to them. Battlefield doesnt belong to anyone so fumbles out of bounds there stay w/the offense
— 🦫✨America Is Musty✨🦫 (@DragonflyJonez) January 22, 2024
Makes no sense to change it, the offense deserves to lose possession when that happens. Don’t fumble the ball going into the end zone 🤷🏽♂️ https://t.co/ivufk5riyM
— Cookie Expert (@JeffAllen71) January 22, 2024
For the "dumbest rule in football" crowd…(it isn't)
What if the ball goes out of the back of the end zone? You surely can't advocate the ball going back to the spot of the fumble, can you?
— Andrew Siciliano (@AndrewSiciliano) January 22, 2024
why is this the hottest trend to say the fumble into the end zone touchback is the dumbest rule. if you fumble like an idiot you should be penalized it’s a good rule that protects the end zone from mediocracy https://t.co/eUmNsJEBez
— Roy Drones Jr (@chiweethedog) January 22, 2024
