How some unusual plays are scored

1. Laterals

If a receiver laterals the ball to a teammate, the receiving yardage continues and the quarterback can still be awarded a TD pass.

EXAMPLE: In 1994, Marino threw a 23-yard pass to Keith Jackson, who lateralled the ball to Irving Fryar, who ran the final 2 yards for a TD.

Marino: 25 yards passing, TD pass.
Jackson: catch, 23 yards receiving.
Fryar: no catch, 2 receiving yards, receiving TD.

2. Fumbles

If a receiver fumbles after a catch, the passing and receiving yardage ends at that point -- unless he manages to recover his own fumble downfield.

3. And what about trick plays on special teams?

The key to determining whether or not a play is a special teams play is really quite simple.  There is one rule to apply:

  • If the ball is kicked, or an attempt was made to kick the ball (in other words, the kicker tried but was unable to get off a kick), it is a special teams play.
  • Anything else is a regular, run-of-the-mill play from scrimmage.  This includes fake punts and fake field goals.

Why aren't fake punts and fake field goals considered special teams plays?

The key word here is "fake."  They never intended to kick the ball.  They simply line up in a formation that was a decoy designed to make the opponent think they were going to kick the ball.  If you line up, snap the ball, and then run or pass the ball - regardless of formation - you have just run a play from scrimmage.   If a team is going for it on 4th down, what is the difference between lining up in a kicking formation vs. lining up in a normal offensive set?  Other than the attempt to deceive their opponent - NOTHING!

4. How are fumble returns and fumble recoveries by offensive players scored?

When offensive players score TDs on fumble recoveries or fumble returns, we find ourselves in a situation where the NFL does not translate perfectly to the FFL.  The NFL usually differentiates between two general categories of TDs.

  1. Offensive TDs
    1. passing
    2. rushing
  2. Return TDs
    1. punt return
    2. kickoff return
    3. interception return
    4. fumble return (or recovery)
    5. blocked kick return (or recovery)

Most fantasy leagues, however, differentiate between offensive, defensive and special teams TDs.  So the problem is one of apples and oranges; the NFL categorizes TDs using one set of categories while fantasy leagues use a different set.

Exhibit A:  The following situation occurred in a Ravens-Chargers game.

2-10-BAL44.  (1:43) J.Lewis up the middle to BLT 47 for 3 yards (A. Dingle). FUMBLES (A. Dingle), touched at BLT 50, recovered by BLT-A.Ricard at 50. A.Ricard for 50 yards, TOUCHDOWN.

Exhibit B:  This happened during a Colt-Buccaneers game.

1-10-TB33.  (5:17) B.Johnson pass intended for K.Dilger INTERCEPTED by M.Doss at IND 41. M.Doss to TB 44 for 15 yards (J.Wade). FUMBLES (J.Wade), touched at TB 43, RECOVERED by TB-K.McCardell at TB 43. K.McCardell for 57 yards, TOUCHDOWN.

What's the difference?  In the first example, there was never a change of possession.  That is, the Ravens never lost possession of the ball.  In the second case, the Colts actually intercepted the pass and thus took possession of the ball.  Subsequently, Doss fumbled the ball away and the Buccaneers regained possession.  At the moment that McCardell recovered the fumble, had he fallen on the ball and not advanced it another yard, it would have been 1st & 10 for Tampa Bay - regardless of original line of scrimmage!  This is a subtle, yet crucial, difference.  In the Ravens game, had Ricard simply fallen on the ball at the 50-yard line, it would have been 3rd & 4 for the Ravens at that point - because they never lost possession of the ball.  That is why the Ravens TD was not included in the team scoring files whereas the Buccaneers TD was.

There are two schools of thought on the Tampa Bay TD.

  • Once the change of possession took place, the Buccaneers were on defense and thus McCardell's TD is a defensive score.  This is the way the majority of fantasy leagues and fantasy services see the play.  It also is the interpretation that most closely matches a "strict constructionist" view of the definition of a defensive TD.
  • The other opinion is that since the Buccaneers offense was on the field when the play began, it is an offensive TD.  Everything in between was just details.  While this is the minority view, it is a significant minority.

How will Quick Stats Service score it and what does this mean to your league?

That's a good question.  Quick Stats Service will report the data in as consistent a manner as possible.  It is up to your league to determine how you will interpret the data.

  1. When a change of possession is involved (as was the case with Tampa Bay), it will be scored with the team and the individual.
    1. McCardell's "TDs (by distance)" field will be F50.
    2. Tampa Bay's TEAM DEFENSE "TDs (by distance)" field will be F50.

  2. When a change of possession is NOT involved (as was the case with the Ravens), it will be scored  for the individual only.
    1. Ricard's "TDs (by distance)" field will be O50.
    2. Baltimore's TEAM DEFENSE would not show a TD.