# Two NFL Football Q's from a Novice **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [December 14, 2019, 2:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/two-nfl-football-qs-from-a-novice/844839 "2019-12-14T02:44:33Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![Hoopy\_Frood](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hoopy_frood/32/8452_2.png) [@Hoopy\_Frood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hoopy_Frood)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2020, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/two-nfl-football-qs-from-a-novice/844839/81 "2020-01-02T21:38:48Z")
> [@Northern\_Piper](#): > > They have to get the ball past their own 20 yard line. If it goes out before that, it’s an illegal punt. I don’t recall it happening, as most punters can get it at least 30 yards. Right. But that didn’t answer the question. What is the penalty? If the line of scrimmage is inside the 10, they obviously can’t go 10 yards back because that puts the line of scrimmage in the end zone. If the ball goes out before the 10, the receiving team can’t field it plus 10 yards, because once again the LOS is in the end zone. ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2020, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/two-nfl-football-qs-from-a-novice/844839/82 "2020-01-02T22:00:57Z")
> [@Hoopy\_Frood](#): > > What is the penalty? If the line of scrimmage is inside the 10, they obviously can’t go 10 yards back because that puts the line of scrimmage in the end zone. Half the distance to the goal line, just like in the NFL. > **[Rule 8 - Application Of Penalties - Section 4 - Restrictions Near A Goal Line...](https://cfldb.ca/rulebook/application-of-penalties/restrictions-near-goal-line/)** > > Section 4 - Restrictions Near A Goal Line - Rule 8 - Application Of Penalties - 2023 CFL Rulebook on CFLdb ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2020, 2:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/two-nfl-football-qs-from-a-novice/844839/83 "2020-01-06T02:29:58Z")
> [@kenobi\_65](#): > > - For the kicking team, while it’s a live ball the moment it’s kicked, they cannot legally _recover_ the ball until it’s traveled upfield 10 yards – that is, if it’s kicked from the 35 yard line, the offense cannot legally recover the ball until it reaches the 45 yard line. They can if the receiving team touches the ball before it travels 10 yards ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2020, 2:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/two-nfl-football-qs-from-a-novice/844839/84 "2020-01-06T02:47:12Z")
> [@Saint\_Cad](#): > > They can if the receiving team touches the ball before it travels 10 yards Indeed, and **enalzi** added that correction to my post back in post #31. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2020, 2:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/two-nfl-football-qs-from-a-novice/844839/85 "2020-01-06T02:49:44Z")
> [@muldoonthief](#): > > Not quite - in the NFL if a fumbled ball goes out of bounds, the last team who possessed the ball gets it back. In the CFL, last team to touch it. Not in the end zone. If the offense fumbles the ball into the end zone and it goes out of bounds it’s a touchback which gives possession to the defense. ETA: The reason why that’s relevant is because in the NFL that’s just about the only reason you’d want to knock a fumbled ball out of bounds, rather than trying to recover it. I’d assumed that should be self-evident. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/two-nfl-football-qs-from-a-novice/844839.md?page=4)