The NFL has been proposing a lot of new rules ahead of upcoming league meetings. One of those has to do with onside kicks.
Instead of choosing to onside kick, teams would be allowed to try and go for it in a 4th-and-15 type of situation from their own 25-yard line.
Teams would therefore have one chance to get at least 15 yards and keep possession on offense. And if they made it, then it would basically equate to a successful onside kick attempt.
The rule change, if passed, could definitely have its negatives and its positives. For now though, it's just a proposal ahead of the upcoming league-wide vote. But Kansas City Chiefs superstar quarterback Patrick Mahomes already has thoughts about the possible rule change and took to Twitter to give his opinion — sort of.
4th and 15…. 😅😅 https://t.co/ESuILCqkcG
— Patrick Mahomes II (@PatrickMahomes) May 21, 2020
Mahomes' reaction could be interpreted a couple of ways. First, and most likely, is Mahomes laughing at the idea of a 4th-and-15 pass attempt.
The Chiefs have one of the most high-powered offenses that the NFL has seen. So situation like a 4th-and-15 do-or-die situation might not seem bad at all to them. In fact, ESPN's Adam Teicher shed some light on how it relates to Mahomes and the Chiefs offense:
Chiefs didn’t go for it on 4th and 15 or longer last year but no wonder Mahomes likes this. He was 12-16 for 255 yards and 3 TD on 3rd and 15 or more in regular season. This doesn’t even count Jet Chip Wasp in Super Bowl. https://t.co/yjz3qP0Bh5
— Adam Teicher (@adamteicher) May 21, 2020
The Chiefs haven't found themselves in too many fourth and (very) long situations. But on long third downs, Mahomes and company absolutely dominated.
Considering that, if this did indeed become an option teams can take instead of an onside kick, Kansas City could end up going for it quite often.
This would certainly be a rule that makes the game more interesting. Teams would definitely be going for these long plays more often as they attempt to make furious comebacks.
It still remains to be seen if this proposal gets off the ground. Maybe Mahomes' glee will sway votes one way or the other.
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