Rules question: Illegal block to the back

[simpleman]

I just saw the highlights of the Cinci playoff game. On the winning fumble recovery, there was an obvious block to the back to a player that had caught up with the runner before he crossed the goal line. Why would that not be a penalty, it occurred before the touchdown was scored. I am beginning to get more and more confused about legal and illegal actions in the NFL. Thank You in advance for the explanation.

Edited January 16, 2023 by simpleman

[buffaloboyinATL]

No explanation. That should have been a penalty, but was not called. 

[SageAgainstTheMachine]

Refs are (either consciously or unconsciously) biased against making calls where 70,000 people will start yelling at them.

[The Jokeman]

You'll never get a valid answer as it was clearly a block in the back, all I can say is the refs missed it. 

[Drew21PA]

Easily a penalty

 

they let it go and it was terribly obvious 

[Mr. WEO]

this is penalty they should just get rid of.  it provides no safety to any player as it is currently enforced. 

[JMM]

It was obvious and ridiculous it wasn't called. Who knows, maybe the Bengals get held to FG. Changed the complexion of the game. 

[bigduke6]

after watching all the games this weekend i can only suspect the NFL told the refs to keep the flags in their pockets unless it was something so blatantly obvious and egregious that they had to call it.   doesnt explain the block on Andrews,  but it sure explains alot of the other stuff i saw uncalled.

 

imo the Phins could have had at least 7 more delay of game penalties that werent called.  

Edited January 16, 2023 by bigduke6

[Dancing Fool]

I remembered when I first became confused about referees making miscalls in my sports entertainment. It really made me upset.

 

Nowadays I recognize that such groups have more goals than a perfectly officiated match between professionals.

 

Life makes a lot more sense nowadays than it did back then.

[Back2Buff]

On the dolphins last play, where Elam broke it up, there was a clear block in the back too.

[SageAgainstTheMachine]

19 minutes ago, Mr. WEO said:

this is penalty they should just get rid of.  it provides no safety to any player as it is currently enforced. 

 

Interesting.  I always thought it was more like holding where the spirit of the penalty is less about safety and more about that life is too easy on blockers if they can block someone in the back who's gotten leverage on them.

[Low Positive]

19 minutes ago, bigduke6 said:

after watching all the games this weekend i can only suspect the NFL told the refs to keep the flags in their pockets unless it was something so blatantly obvious and egregious that they had to call it.   doesnt explain the block on Andrews,  but it sure explains alot of the other stuff i saw uncalled.

 

imo the Phins could have had at least 7 more delay of game penalties that werent called.  

Then how do you explain that soft DPI call on Tre that extended the Dolphins lone actual drive?

[GolfandBills]

The officiating in the playoffs league wide  has been spotty at best 

[4th&long]

That was obviously a block in the back. I have been wondering why no one has mentioned it on the highlight shows I’ve watched? It’s like “here’s this incredible play but we will ignore this obvious block in the back “!

Edited January 16, 2023 by 4th&long

[Franco_92]

There was a block in the back on the Dolphins last offensive play too.  Had elam not broken it up, I was ready to go ballistic. 

[Mr. WEO]

5 minutes ago, SageAgainstTheMachine said:

 

Interesting.  I always thought it was more like holding where the spirit of the penalty is less about safety and more about that life is too easy on blockers if they can block someone in the back who's gotten leverage on them.

 

every man for himself out there.   a block is a block. 

[Bermuda Triangle]

23 minutes ago, Back2Buff said:

On the dolphins last play, where Elam broke it up, there was a clear block in the back too.

Edmunds was also blatantly blocked in the back on the  Dolphins' 4th and 8 conversion, following a Milano missed tackle

[MJS]

27 minutes ago, Mr. WEO said:

this is penalty they should just get rid of.  it provides no safety to any player as it is currently enforced. 

Interesting thought. But the consequences of that would be pretty unsafe. Players would start getting blasted in the back on every play and it WOULD lead to injuries as they are not able to protect themselves.

[BarleyNY]

33 minutes ago, simpleman said:

I just saw the highlights of the Cinci playoff game. On the winning fumble recovery, there was an obvious block to the back to a player that had caught up with the runner before he crossed the goal line. Why would that not be a penalty, it occurred before the touchdown was scored. I am beginning to get more and more confused about legal and illegal actions in the NFL. Thank You in advance for the explanation.

The refs had swallowed their whistles by then. A few plays prior Huntley ran the ball for a big gain and first down. He was only able to do so because a Baltimore OG tackled a Cincy DT rushing up the middle. He would’ve likely tackled Huntley for a loss had that not happened. 

[Realist]

27 minutes ago, Back2Buff said:

On the dolphins last play, where Elam broke it up, there was a clear block in the back too.

Saw that and thought the same thing as it happened.