Challenge Rules in NFL Football : Explained
Usually in sports, referees don’t make the best or correct calls regarding some play that occurs. Most of the time, it’s something that just has to be dealt with, because players and coaches can’t repeatedly argue with referees about changing their mind. However, in some cases, having some calls challenged can be the difference between a win and a loss. Having a coach who knows when and what to challenge can be a game-changing weapon of sorts. Through the 2022 NFL playoffs, we’ve already seen how shoddy officiating can be, and the challenge is a tool well worth its use. Here’s the rules of challenges in NFL football (same between regular season games and playoff games):
– The coach must throw a challenge flag before the start of the next play. Once the next play is underway, a coach can no longer challenge.
– Both teams in an NFL game start with two challenges. Those are the only two challenges that teams get for the duration of the game. If a team uses two challenges and successfully wins both, then they are allowed one final challenge.
– A team can only use a challenge if they have at least one timeout remaining. A team cannot challenge a play if they have no timeouts remaining.
– In the case of a successful challenge, the call on the field is overturned and are charged for one challenge. In the case of a failed challenge, the team loses a timeout.
– Inside of two minutes at the end of a half, plays cannot be challenged, and all reviews will be initiated by the officials.
– If a coach challenges but has no timeouts, then the team is assessed a 15-yard penalty.
– All replay reviews in overtime will be initiated by the replay official. Challenges left from regulation do not roll over into overtime.
There are certain calls that can be challenged and some that can’t be challenged. The ones that can be challenged include: completions/incompletions, fumbles (a team must have clear possession of the football to be overturned), spot of the ball, runner down by contact, goal line plays (if a play is not called a touchdown on the field), 12 players on the field at the snap.
When coaches throw a challenge flag on plays that are automatically reviewed, such as a scoring play, they are penalized for it.
The NFL’s challenge rules are so weird. https://t.co/O12VB4PHxG
— Chris Vannini (@ChrisVannini) January 30, 2022
https://twitter.com/4StateNews/status/1471640999709614085
What NFL plays Cannot be challenged?
A team may not challenge a reviewable play:
(a) After the two-minute warning of each half;
(b) Throughout any overtime period;
(c) After committing a foul that delays the next snap; and
(d) After exhausting all of its challenges or timeouts.
Can you challenge plays in NFL?
Can a play be challenged in the final two minutes of a half or OT?
Once a game enters the final two minutes of the first or second half, known as the two-minute warning, neither team’s head coach is allowed to throw a challenge flag for any reason as all calls will be automatically reviewed
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