What if I told you that the NFL this offseason will consider a change to its worst rule — one that cost the Vikings dearly in a key game already this season — but one of the most important voices potentially spearheading the change is from the Packers?
Right. It's time to put rivalries aside. A good idea is a good idea, and Packers President Mark Murphy was absolutely right when he said this week at the NFL Owners Meetings that the rule awarding a defensive touchback after an offense fumble through the end zone is "too punitive."
The NFL might have bigger things to consider, including the state of officiating and safety in the game. But ESPN notes of the fumble/touchback rule that "changes to the current rule could come in the offseason." If there is a change, as I talked about on Thursday's Daily Delivery podcast, it would be cause for celebration.
Vikings fans will remember the brunt of the rule hitting the purple earlier this season. Justin Jefferson fumbled near the goal line against the Eagles, and a review showed that the ball went out of bounds in the end zone. That meant it was Philadelphia's ball at their own 20. It was just inches from being out of bounds on the sideline, where the Vikings would have retained possession at the Eagles' 1.
The Vikings ended up losing by six.
Here are some options the NFL could consider this offseason, including my own suggested possible changes to the rule:
*Do nothing. That's the easiest thing, but it wouldn't fix a bad rule. On any other out-of-bounds fumble, the ball stays with the offense. Why should a fumble in the end zone result in not just a change of possession but a bunch of yards as well?
*Tweak the rule so that the defense gains possession at the spot where the fumble occurred — which would typically be very close to the goal line. This would be better than the current rule, but still probably too harsh given that possession still changes.
