I’m not sure why this is dumb. The intercepting team was responsible for the ball being in the end zone in the first place so what ever happens there it’s on them. Had the offensive team fallen on the ball in the end zone it still would have been a touchback. Don’t want to lose the ball? Don’t fumble it,
“If there are no animals in Heaven, then when I die I want to go where they went.” - Will Rogers (paraphrased)
But they didn't fall on it in the endzone. They never possessed the ball, but got it back. There's no reason that a fumble by a team at the goalline that goes out of the endzone rather than out at the one should then turn the ball over. There's no difference between the two, except for that one is a few yards further. The team who receives the ball does nothing to deserve possession. It's a bad rule.
Edit/Add: The rule was applied correctly. The referees did nothing wrong.
“If there are no animals in Heaven, then when I die I want to go where they went.” - Will Rogers (paraphrased)
The ball is dead either way, the ball is treated differently once it goes in the end zone. Let’s say the offense fumbled the ball and it went out of the back of the end zone. Are you in favor of that being a safety? I can’t get into the theory behind the rule because, frankly, I don’t know what it is. I just think that rewarding the team for not protecting the ball near the goal line would be a much worse rule.
“If there are no animals in Heaven, then when I die I want to go where they went.” - Will Rogers (paraphrased)
That is a rule, isn’t it? If the offensive team fumbles out of their own end zone, it’s a safety. That makes sense. You’re punished for going backwards.
The only way the opposing team should be able to gain possession of a football should be to actually gain possession of a football.
I accept on downs, there’s a reason for that, which is to maintain game flow and encourage teams to get first downs instead of running the equivalence of a Dean Smith four corners offense.
There’s no reason that fumbling out of your opponents end zone should be so punitive.
Yes, that is the rule, but I’m confused, in the scenario where the offense fumbles it out of bounds the defense didn’t gain possession and not only will they get 2 points, they’ll get possession. On a normal backwards fumble the offense can recover. It’s the same thing in my mind.
“If there are no animals in Heaven, then when I die I want to go where they went.” - Will Rogers (paraphrased)
Just as an aside, I’m not saying you’re wrong. The rules are confusing and somewhat arbitrary. If you think this is confusing, try reading part of the rulebook if you can get your hands on one. They’re very much written in legalese.
“If there are no animals in Heaven, then when I die I want to go where they went.” - Will Rogers (paraphrased)
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