NFL Rules Changes Made For Health And Safety Also Part Of Chase For More Points

ORLANDO – It's about scoring points for the NFL.

It's about lighting the scoreboard and setting fans aglow with impressive statistics from exciting games that go back and forth as touchdowns answer touchdowns.

Points attract and please crowds. They increase viewership. They make the NFL money. So, more points everybody.

Touchdowns.

Field goals.

Safeties.

Points!

The problem with all this is that scoring is down in the NFL. And in the Competition Committee's report to ownership delivered on Monday, chair Rich McKay made that depressing point (pardon the pun) all too clearly.

"Competitively, the on-the-field, we're in a good place," McKay said. "The only issue that we raised is a little bit of scoring. Because scoring has trended itself down. If you look over the last 30 years, 45 points has kind of been the average.

"We're at 43.5 [in 2023], so let's not act like it's a huge move. But it is one we are paying attention to."

Defensive coaches are deploying two-deep safeties in so-called shell coverages to limit big pass plays. Defenders are adapting to the pass-first approach on offense. And, yes, injuries to starting quarterbacks are a problem not easily solved.

"I do think defenses have been more successful over the last couple of seasons," McKay said. "They've reduced the amount of drives per game, they've definitely had their way a little bit."

But the NFL is hopeful the current NFL meetings can offer some adjustments. And by adjustments, I mean more points.

LAS VEGAS, NV - FEBRUARY 11: Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) attempts to avoid the sack of San Francisco 49ers defensive end Chase Young (92) during Super Bowl LVIII between the Kansas City Chiefs and the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday February 11, 2024 at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, NV.  (Photo by Nick Tre. Smith/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

NFL Bans Swivel Hip Drop Tackle

The NFL on Monday passed a rule to remove the swivel hip drop tackle from the game. That means, much to the chagrin of some players and fans that like football as something of a gladiator sport, defenders will lose a tackling technique that had become increasingly popular.

The NFL's statistics say, and McKay echoes, that the swivel hip drop tackle is being eliminated as a health and safety concern. And, yes, there are worrisome statistics that blare the fact the tackle technique injures players at a higher rate than other tackles.

But the more focused truth is it injures offensive players – the guys paid to score points. 

And its ban from the game comes with a 15-yard penalty if called on the field. So the defense will adhere to the ban or suffer a significant field position sanction.

LAS VEGAS, NV - FEBRUARY 11: Kansas City Chiefs safety Justin Reid (20) tackles San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Deebo Samuel (19) during Super Bowl LVIII between the Kansas City Chiefs and the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday February 11, 2024 at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, NV.  (Photo by Nick Tre. Smith/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Defenders Unhappy Over Hip Drop Ban

Both of those help the offense.

So, points!

"This will be a hard call on the field … because this is the swivel hip drop tackle, it's not every hip drop tackle," McKay said. "This is the one where the player grabs, unweights himself, swivels around, and falls on the legs."

When the swivel hip drop ban was announced, multiple current and former NFL defenders took to social media to complain. 

NFL Ignores Complaints 

But the complaints from players and the NFL Players Association at large went unheeded. 

"I've heard defenders say before and I hear them, ‘Hey, you’re putting me in a really tough spot saying I can't hit here. What do I do?' " McKay said. 

"My response is always, ‘You can’t do that.' The guy you're hitting is defenseless and has no way to defend himself. You've got to come up with other ways."

That sounds like the NFL is solely concerned with the safety of players at risk, which is fair. But it leaves unsaid what everyone else understands as taking away another defensive weapon and helping the offense.

So, the potential for more points is a result.

Another Chance To Increase Points

And the NFL isn't stopping at the swivel hip drop tackle.

The league's ruling elders believe instituting the proposed new kickoff rule could improve point production because teams get improved opportunities to return kickoffs, and get improved field position for kicks through the end zone and on touchbacks.

"We think there is the one rule change that we do think, if passed, will impact [points] and that would be the kickoff rule in changing the average start line," McKay said. 

"So that's kind of where the game is in our mind."

DETROIT, MICHIGAN - JANUARY 07: Kene Nwangwu #26 of the Minnesota Vikings returns a kick off during the first half of a game against the Detroit Lions at Ford Field on January 07, 2024 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Mike Mulholland/Getty Images)

Source: 20 Teams Already In Favor Of Change

The new hybrid kickoff rule has been debated for a couple of days at this meeting and there may be a vote on adding it for a year on Wednesday.

An NFL source told OutKick that approximately 20 clubs are already in favor of changing the kickoff rules with another four or five on the fence. So there was to be some lobbying done Monday evening as NFL commissioner Roger Goodell and others tried to gain the necessary 24 votes to pass the new measure.

"This is our chance to keep special teams in the game," McKay said. "… If you lose the kickoff, you pretty much eliminate special teams."

That's a stark assessment, but perhaps that's part of the lobbying being done in order to save a key play, yes. But also to get more points into the game.