I watched Sunday’s Rams-Bengals game in a sports bar that had the sound turned off. Here’s what I saw:
The Bengals punted to the Rams. A Ram tried to bat the ball out of the endzone, but could not; he appearded to touch the ball however. The ball was on the ground in the endzone when a Bengal scooped it up and ran it back for an apparent TD – I think the ref actually signalled the TD, IIRC. But there was a penalty called and play resumed with the Rams in possession on their 27 (!!!) yard line.
So, what was that all about? None of the recap shows discussed it. One local paper mentioned it in passing but was vague in the details.
I can’t say for sure because I didn’t watch the game, but any penalty that was called on Cincinnati before the fumble recovery would negate the turnover and grant St. Louis yardage, possibly from the point of the foul. But there has to be someone who actually watched the game who can answer for sure.
There were a couple of different things going on, which is why it was confusing.
The Rams player touched the ball. As soon as he touched it, it was a “free” ball, meaning the Bengals could pick it up and regain possession.
It was irrelevant that the ball landed in the end zone, the Bengals player was still free to pick it up and try to advance it.
Because everyone thought the play was over, both sides started sending the appropriate offensive/defensive players out for the next play.
As soon as a 12th Bengals player stepped on to the field, the ref called them for illegal substitution (i.e., you can’t substitute a player while the play is still going on). The penalty was called at the point where the 12th player stepped on to the field.
The ref noted that the Rams also had too many players on the field, but since Cincinnatti was at that moment the team with possesssion, their penalty mattered. Also, I believe the Bengals actually had 12 players on a second before the Rams did.
Why did the Rams get possession? If it was a free ball and the Bengal player picked it up shouldn’t the Bengals have gotten the ball back? Or do you mean that the penalty occurred before the Bengal scooped up the ball? If so, why should that matter?
Something’s confused in the original description. If the Bengals scooped up the ball in the Rams endzone, no advancement was needed or possible. It would have been a Bengals touchdown if they had legal possession or a touchback for the Rams if not.
Styguy, the Rams were punting to the Bengals. It would have been a 102 yard return to the Rams 5 but the penalty put it at the 27(spot of the infraction). The Bengals then went three & out.
okay, here’s what i don’t get: they spot the ball where the infraction occurred? what does that mean? where the 12th player walked on the field? that would be insane, wouldn’t it? please clarify.
I believe it is where the ball was when the 12th player stepped on the field, but I’ll be surprised if I’m not corrected by someone who knows this stuff.
Okay, Telemark, I thought of that too. But presumably the Bengal player would have had the ball at that time (as he was streaking up the field). Why would possession go to the Rams?
Cancel my last post! Sorry. Posession did not go to the Rams, it went to the Bengals – the receiving team – as it should have. Okay, I understand now. I am no loger confused.
Upon reading the above link to the Ram’s hometown newspaper, you will see this paragraph:
"But because members of the Bengals offense and Rams defense had taken the field, each team was whistled for illegal substitution. The ball was placed at the Bengals’ 27, where officials first noticed the infraction. "
So the Bengals return man was running across the 27 yard line when the officials noticed the penalty.
I was incorrect in my earlier post. The Bengals actually gained one first down in the series after that play before turning the ball over:
“Instead of being 5 yards from a tying touchdown, the Bengals took the ball in their territory and made just one first down before punting. On the ensuing possession, the Rams scored on a 50-yard field goal that extended their lead to 20-10.”
I’ve watched many sporting events from a bar stool and have been distracted from all of the action. That is why it’s good to read the newspaper to fill in the spots one may have missed.