Is there some rule in the NFL against kicking a FG to end the game?

[Uncle Leo]

I'll never understand taking a timeout before kicking a FG with anything more than 3 seconds on the clock, unless it's 3rd down.

Yet it seems it happens all the time in the NFL. The Eagles just called a timeout with 0:07 on the clock, ensuring they'd have to kick off to the Broncos again. Why?

 

[GBryne4Heisman]

maybe? i'm not real sure what youre asking

 

[Afro Dawg]

But I think that there's a rule that states that all kicking plays automatically take at least five seconds. Meaning if you kick with three seconds and you botch the snap, the game is over.

 

[ronartest]

The Eagles called timeout there is because the play clock was at :01 and they didn't want a delay of game. Just a thought.

 

[Uncle Leo]

But on 4th down in a tied game, when you know it's your last play, regardless, why not make it the last play of regulation? Why leave enough time that forces you to kick to the other team again?</p>

 

[Uncle Leo]

Granted, I was only listening to the TV. I thought the commentator was saying the game clock and play clock were identical.

Still, this seems to happen a lot... Calling timeout to kick a FG with enough time that you still have to kick off.

 

[MSU CS 2004]

Doesn't mean it doesn't exist, but a quick glance through the timing and scrimmage kick rules doesn't turn up anything.

Also, I don't know about NFL rules, but in NCAA and NFHS, it isn't a kicking down unless there is an actual kick.

 

[Henry Kissinger]

they called the time out with one second on the play clock. definitely wasn't identical

 

[MSU CS 2004]

In the play-by-play below, note that third down was run with 52 seconds left. The 40 second clock would start as soon as McNabb was tackled. The play would have needed to take 10 seconds for the Eagles to be able to run it down to 3 seconds.

That said, I agree with you. Has anyone ever seen a scenario where a team bobbled the snap, recovered, called timeout, and then kicked the game-winning field goal on the second attempt? I can think of at least three games off the top of my head where a team called timeout too early, and lost a game they would have won if they called timeout with 3 seconds.

This wasn't one of those times, though. (On a side note, never trust announcers.)

1. Philadelphia Eagles at 01:41
2. <span class="pbp-dd-info">1-10-DEN 42</span> <span class="pbp-dd-text">(1:41) 29-L.McCoy left tackle to DEN 40 for 2 yards (54-A.Davis).</span>
3. <span class="pbp-dd-info">2-8-DEN 40</span> <span class="pbp-dd-text">(1:03) (Shotgun) 5-D.McNabb pass incomplete deep left to 18-J.Maclin. The Replay Assistant challenged the incomplete pass ruling, and the play was REVERSED. (Shotgun) 5-D.McNabb pass deep left to 18-J.Maclin ran ob at DEN 13 for 27 yards.</span><span class="pbp-dd-text">http://www.nfl.com/gamecenter/20091...s@eagles#tab:watch/contentId:09000d5d8154db1f</span>
4. <span class="pbp-dd-info">1-10-DEN 13</span> <span class="pbp-dd-text">59) 36-B.Westbrook left end to DEN 13 for no gain (57-M.Haggan).</span>
5. <span class="pbp-dd-full-info">Timeout #2 by DEN at 00:55.</span>
6. <span class="pbp-dd-info">2-10-DEN 13</span> <span class="pbp-dd-text">55) 43-L.Weaver up the middle to DEN 10 for 3 yards (90-K.Peterson).</span>
7. <span class="pbp-dd-full-info">Timeout #3 by DEN at 00:52.</span>
8. <span class="pbp-dd-info">3-7-DEN 10</span> <span class="pbp-dd-text">(<span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">:52</span>) 5-D.McNabb up the middle to DEN 10 for no gain (91-R.Fields).</span>
9. <span class="pbp-dd-full-info">Timeout #2 by PHI at 00:07.</span>
10. <span class="pbp-dd-info">4-7-DEN 10</span> <span class="pbp-dd-text scoring-play">(<span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">:07</span>) 2-D.Akers 28 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-J.Dorenbos, Holder-6-S.Rocca.</span><span class="pbp-dd-text">http://www.nfl.com/gamecenter/20091...s@eagles#tab:watch/contentId:09000d5d8154dbe7</span>
11. DEN 27 PHI 30 Plays: 6 Possession: 1:37