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Quiz about Welcome to NFL Officiating 201
Quiz about Welcome to NFL Officiating 201

Welcome to NFL Officiating 201 Quiz


NFL officials have to be quick on their feet when making calls on Sundays. That also includes the Commissioner. Welcome to NFL Officiating 201!

A multiple-choice quiz by cag1970. Estimated time: 5 mins.
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Author
cag1970
Time
5 mins
Type
Multiple Choice
Quiz #
161,171
Updated
Dec 03 21
# Qns
10
Difficulty
Average
Avg Score
6 / 10
Plays
9842
Awards
Top 20% Quiz
Last 3 plays: ankitankurddit (5/10), Guest 174 (7/10), Guest 75 (5/10).
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Question 1 of 10
1. With 1:42 left in the second quarter, the Panthers quarterback throws a perfect strike to his wide receiver. The receiver, successfully making the catch, fumbles the football after being hit at the Falcons 32-yard line. Another Panthers receiver scoops up the loose football after it rolls back to the 34-yard line and carries it, untouched, into the end zone. Is this a touchdown?


Question 2 of 10
2. On 4th and 7, the Raiders are forced to punt from their own 34-yard line. The punt is deflected by a Broncos rusher, who runs into, but does not knock down, the punter. What penalty, if any, does the referee call here? Hint


Question 3 of 10
3. In 2003, which two NFL teams were impacted when Commissioner Paul Tagliabue invoked Rule 17, Article 9 of the NFL Rules, which allows the Commissioner to schedule a game at an alternate site in the event of an emergency? Hint


Question 4 of 10
4. The Vikings find themselves 2nd and 8 on the Rams 39-yard line. At the snap of the ball, the Vikings fullback and one of their wide receivers are in motion. What penalty, if any, should the referee call here? Hint


Question 5 of 10
5. Looking to take advantage of a backup linebacker's blazing speed, the Steelers coach inserts him into the lineup for one play to replace a starting wide receiver. The backup linebacker, wearing number 57, doesn't notify the officials that he's going to play wide receiver prior to joining the huddle. On the play, the Steelers throw to another receiver, who beats a Browns defensive back for a 67-yard catch. Does the play stand?


Question 6 of 10
6. Under the original NFL jersey numbering system, linebackers and centers wore jersey numbers in what range? Hint


Question 7 of 10
7. The Buccaneers attempt a 47-yard field goal. The kick is short, and is caught in the air by a Packers safety stationed at his own 3-yard line. The safety gets some key blocks and takes the ball all the way to the Buccaneers end zone. Is this a touchdown?


Question 8 of 10
8. After scoring a go-ahead touchdown against the 49ers, a Lions receiver rips off his helmet in the end zone and starts to dance. The official nearest him throws a flag for unsportsmanlike conduct. How does the referee enforce this penalty? Hint


Question 9 of 10
9. In a PAT try situation, the defensive team can never score any points.


Question 10 of 10
10. The Patriots punt to the Jaguars. The ball bounces off the foot of a Patriots player at the Jaguars 26-yard line. The Jaguars return man immediately scoops up the ball and runs downfield. The Patriots finally tackle him at their 47-yard line and recover the subsequent fumble at that spot. Do the Patriots get to keep the ball?



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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts
1. With 1:42 left in the second quarter, the Panthers quarterback throws a perfect strike to his wide receiver. The receiver, successfully making the catch, fumbles the football after being hit at the Falcons 32-yard line. Another Panthers receiver scoops up the loose football after it rolls back to the 34-yard line and carries it, untouched, into the end zone. Is this a touchdown?

Answer: No

The Supplemental Note to Rule 8, Section 4, Article 2 of the NFL Rules states: "After the two-minute warning, any fumble that occurs during a down (including Try), the fumbled ball may only be advanced by the offensive player who fumbled the ball, or any member of the defensive team." Since the spot of the recovery was behind the spot of the fumble, the football is spotted at the point of recovery, which would be the Falcons' 34-yard line.
2. On 4th and 7, the Raiders are forced to punt from their own 34-yard line. The punt is deflected by a Broncos rusher, who runs into, but does not knock down, the punter. What penalty, if any, does the referee call here?

Answer: No penalty. This is a legal play.

According to Rule 12, Section 2, Article 6 of the NFL Rules, a defensive player may run into or rough the kicker only if it is incidental to and after he has touched the kick in flight. The Broncos player, then, did not commit a foul, since he deflected the kicked football.
3. In 2003, which two NFL teams were impacted when Commissioner Paul Tagliabue invoked Rule 17, Article 9 of the NFL Rules, which allows the Commissioner to schedule a game at an alternate site in the event of an emergency?

Answer: Miami and San Diego

In the wake of devastating forest fires in Southern California, Qualcomm Stadium became a key staging area for emergency and sheltering operations. As workers beat back the flames, the Arizona Cardinals welcomed the Miami Dolphins and San Diego Chargers into their home, Sun Devil Stadium, for a Monday-night tilt.
4. The Vikings find themselves 2nd and 8 on the Rams 39-yard line. At the snap of the ball, the Vikings fullback and one of their wide receivers are in motion. What penalty, if any, should the referee call here?

Answer: Illegal shift

Two players cannot be in motion at the snap of the football, as per Rule 7, Section 2, Article 5(c). This is termed an illegal shift. The official signal for illegal shift is for the referee to make horizontal arcs with both hands. The Vikings face a five-yard penalty for this infraction.
5. Looking to take advantage of a backup linebacker's blazing speed, the Steelers coach inserts him into the lineup for one play to replace a starting wide receiver. The backup linebacker, wearing number 57, doesn't notify the officials that he's going to play wide receiver prior to joining the huddle. On the play, the Steelers throw to another receiver, who beats a Browns defensive back for a 67-yard catch. Does the play stand?

Answer: No

On April 5, 1973, the NFL implemented a jersey-numbering system to designate players by their positions. Since the linebacker in this question is wearing a number in the 50-59 range, he's required by rule to report to the referee BEFORE he enters the huddle (Rule 7, Article 3). If he had done that, the play would have been legal.

As it is, though, the Steelers are penalized five yards for illegal substitution.
6. Under the original NFL jersey numbering system, linebackers and centers wore jersey numbers in what range?

Answer: 50 through 69

The NFL's numbering system, as established on April 5, 1973, is as follows: 1-19 for quarterbacks and specialists (punters and placekickers), 20-49 for running backs and defensive backs, 50 through 69 for centers and linebackers, 60-79 for interior offensive linemen (except centers) and defensive linemen, 80-89 for wide receivers and tight ends, and 90-99 for defensive linemen.

The NFL allowed players to keep an old number that was not correct for their position if they used that number during the 1972 season. Beginning with the 2004 NFL season, wide receivers were allowed to wear numbers in the range 10-19. Later still, linebackers were allowed to wear numbers in the range 90-99.
7. The Buccaneers attempt a 47-yard field goal. The kick is short, and is caught in the air by a Packers safety stationed at his own 3-yard line. The safety gets some key blocks and takes the ball all the way to the Buccaneers end zone. Is this a touchdown?

Answer: Yes

In 2007, San Diego's Antonio Cromartie set an NFL record by returning a missed field goal 109 yards for a touchdown. Rule 9, Article 2 states that if a defensive (or receiving) team recovers any kick, it may advance it. So the Packers would indeed score a touchdown on this play.
8. After scoring a go-ahead touchdown against the 49ers, a Lions receiver rips off his helmet in the end zone and starts to dance. The official nearest him throws a flag for unsportsmanlike conduct. How does the referee enforce this penalty?

Answer: After the PAT Try, 15 yards from the normal kickoff spot.

Rule 12, Section 3, Article 1 (d) of the NFL Rules specifically states that a player cannot remove his helmet while on the field. There are exceptions to this rule, but the Lions player in this case clearly isn't one of them. Because the foul occurred AFTER the score took place, making this a dead-ball foul, the 15-yard penalty is enforced from the spot of the next offensive play, which would be the ensuing kickoff.

The Lions, then, would kick off from their 15-yard line.
9. In a PAT try situation, the defensive team can never score any points.

Answer: False

Rule 11, Section 3, Article 2 of the NFL Rules states:

During a Try, the following shall apply:
a. If a kick results in a field goal by the offense, one point is awarded. An artificial or manufactured tee shall not be permitted to assist in the execution of a Try-kick. (The conditions of 11-4-1 must be met.)
b. If a Try results in a touchdown by either team, two points are awarded.
c.If the Try results in what would ordinarily be a safety against either team, one point is awarded to the opponent.
d. If any play results in a touchback, the Try is unsuccessful, and there shall be no replay.
10. The Patriots punt to the Jaguars. The ball bounces off the foot of a Patriots player at the Jaguars 26-yard line. The Jaguars return man immediately scoops up the ball and runs downfield. The Patriots finally tackle him at their 47-yard line and recover the subsequent fumble at that spot. Do the Patriots get to keep the ball?

Answer: No

Once a punt has crossed the line of scrimmage, it is considered illegal touching if the kicking team touches the ball first, according to Rule 9, Section 1, Article 4. The kicking team does not have to possess the ball in order for illegal touching to occur.

The ball simply cannot touch any member of the kicking team before the receiving team touches it. The Jaguars gain possession of the ball at the spot of the illegal touch, at the 26-yard line.
Source: Author cag1970

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