Can anyone explain why the Chargers retained possession after the blocked punt? I could see if the Chiefs actually possessed the ball, then fumbled it, but the KC player only touched the ball. Anyone know?
Nevermind... They just explained that once it passes the LOS, it is treated as a normal punt. I bet that rule has been covered by Mangini at practice. Seems like one of those details he'd be right on top of.
It was not a blown call. It's a bad rule, but it was the correct call. The ball was blocked but crossed the line of scrimmage. Because a receiving player touched the ball, it was treated as a player trying to recover a punt (granted, a pretty terrible punt). Once he touches it, it's considered a change of possession, and it's now a live ball.
I just didnt get why SD got a sudden 1st down after that, I thought since it was 4th down and all that because the punt got blocked that the series is over unless the SD player who did recover it got past the 1st down marker or a penalty happened in favor of SD. Neither of that happened though.
The key was the KC player touched the ball past the line of scrimage. Once that happened it became no different then if the punt was partially blocked, but still went 50 yards in the air and the punt returner muffed the punt. Therefore, since SD recovered it they got the ball back with a fresh set of downs.
As others have said, the key was that the ball went past the line of scrimmage without a Charger touching it. It then became just another punt, and when the Chief player touched it, it became a live ball.
2 things 1 - The Punt was Blocked BEHIND the LOS and that should negate anything that happens afterwards as long as the ball doesn't cross the LOS. 2- I think what confused me and others is that I couldn't tell if the NEXT Chief that touched it was behind the LOS.
No, it was a correct call (just like a muffed punt or an onside kick). If the punt goes over the LOS, it is considered a forward punt. If a member of the kicking team then touches it, it is considered a change of possession. If it is later recovered by a member of the receiving team, the receiving team keeps the ball because there was a change of possession, rendering the previous down and distance irrelevant. The KC player who touched the ball after it was blocked botched it. What you have to do there is not touch it, because even if SD recovers, they turn it over on downs.
