GB@MIN: How have we come to this?

To be awarded a reception, a receiver (such as Minnesota’s Justin Jefferson) is required to not only control the ball, but get both feet down in the field of play. Then he must maintain control of the ball when he gets smacked by a defender and/or he crashes to the ground. That’s a high bar.

Meanwhile, on plays such as this one (and many like it included on this website), Jefferson is indifferent about where his feet land. That’s because he has (ta-da!) broken the plane. Even though his right foot (see below) hits in front of the goal line and his next step lands out of bounds, who cares? All he needs to do is briefly displace a little end zone airspace and he’s golden. That is a low, low bar.

We understand some of the reasoning behind the BTP rule, but the simpler path to six points it offers has led to a steady intrusion of uninteresting, sloppy, low-grade scoring shortcuts that, we believe, diminish the game. So we’re speaking up. Over time, breaking the plane can break a fan’s spirit. Hocus Bogus rating: 4

GB@MIN: Pylon flyover

Here Justin Jefferson demonstrates a variation of the break-the-plane rule: going wide of the end zone by zooming over a pylon (flight sequence shown below).

For reasons we can’t explain, ball carriers who transport the ball above the pylon and land out of bounds are given touchdowns (or two-point conversions). Since pylons are positioned outside the field play, we don’t understand why this is considered to be a sound decision. Fans have just come to accept that it is.

So Jefferson, one of the game’s most talented receivers, gets credit for two touchdowns in one game where he made no in-bounds contact with the end zone on either play. Huh.

Our rule, if enacted, would require ball carriers to make in-bounds contact with the end zone to earn six points. Seems like a sensible expectation. Rating: 4

JAX@WAS: Flipping out

Imagine if engineers were granted the same latitude ball carriers enjoy (such as Washington’s Curtis Samuel of this play) when they approach the end zone.

“I have this bolt that is supposed to go inside this big rectangle, 53.3 yards wide by 10 yards deep. Where should I attach it?”

“No need for that. Just carry it into the rectangle’s airspace. You’re good.”

“But it won’t contact anything. It’ll just kind of hover inside the space.”

“That’s all that’s necessary. Let ‘er float. You can even step outside the rectangle if you want. Just jump over that big thick line in front first.”

“OK, then. This sure makes my job easier.” It did so for Samuel, who flipped himself through a little end zone airspace and landed out of bounds. Rating: 3.5

SF@CHI: Cut the corner one more time

Same deal as the two plays ruled touchdowns above. Chicago’s Dante Pettis cuts the corner of the end zone without making in-bounds contact, all that’s to the always accommodating break-the-plane rule. Rating: 3