Tuesday led to a variety of rule changes to be enforced starting in 2025. Amongst them are an expansion to using replay assist, together with a tweak to the time beyond regulation format.
It was known well prematurely of this week’s league meetings that consideration can be given to broadening using replay assist. To no surprise, then, the league has committed to doing so. Expanded use of video replay to assist on-field officials was experimented with in 2024, and that may proceed next yr, as detailed by NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero.
In consequence, penalties issued for calls similar to roughing the passer, intentional grounding and unnecessary roughness at the moment are subject to review (and not using a coach’s challenge being needed). Video officials can correct calls by nullifying penalties when clear evidence overturning the unique decision exists. With that said, today’s changes don’t allow for penalties to be issued upon review for plays where no flag is thrown.
The NFL recently amended playoff time beyond regulation rules to make sure each teams receive the ball no less than once in the additional frame. That change brought concerning the expectation it could soon be duplicated within the regular season. Indeed, Dianna Russini of The Athletic notes each teams can have possession even within the event of a touchdown being scored by one in every of them in regular season contests.
Despite that tweak, OT in the course of the regular season will still consist of a 10- (reasonably than 15-) minute quarter. That would end in time constraints for the second team to receive the ball depending on how long the primary team’s touchdown drive lasts. Nonetheless, the results of the coin toss in the beginning of the additional frame will carry less weight within the wake of today’s change.
These two changes come on the identical day that the NFL’s dynamic kickoff was approved on a full-time basis (with touchbacks being moved up five yards to encourage further upticks in the speed of returns). Consideration to amending onside kicks will happen later this offseason; the identical can be true of the tush push play.
