NFL Clock Question?

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Ironman92's avatar

Ironman92

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Feb 7, 2011 9:08 PM
Yesterday in the SB with 6:50 left in the game Green Bay was tackled in bounds and the 35 second clock began with 6:45 left.....but at 6:20 Green Bay player false started.......clock stopped at 6:19.....Green Bay went back to huddle and GAME CLOCK began and the ball was not snapped until there was 5:56 on the game clock and they could've taken it down to 5:46 (10 seconds on 35 second clock when ball was snapped)


What is the rule? Did anyone else see this? I just didn't understand how the team who committed the error got to run extra time off the clock which would not had been possible had they not false started.

The 14 seconds could've been 24 seconds.......coulda been huge.


What is the rule?

********GREEN BAY WAS BETTER AND FAR DESERVING OF THE WIN......this is not a bitchfest....I don't know the rule.
Feb 7, 2011 9:08pm
OQB's avatar

OQB

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Feb 7, 2011 9:14 PM
I didn't see this particular issue, but I also witnessed another clock issue...I think it was the third qtr but a player ran out of bounds with 6 seconds to go in the qtr...the clock stopped but they ruled it was the end of the qtr and ran the last 6 seconds off. Why not run the one last play of the qtr and use the 6 seconds?
Feb 7, 2011 9:14pm
sleeper's avatar

sleeper

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Feb 7, 2011 9:14 PM
You lost, get over it.
Feb 7, 2011 9:14pm
karen lotz's avatar

karen lotz

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Feb 7, 2011 9:19 PM
OrrvilleQB;669273 wrote:I didn't see this particular issue, but I also witnessed another clock issue...I think it was the third qtr but a player ran out of bounds with 6 seconds to go in the qtr...the clock stopped but they ruled it was the end of the qtr and ran the last 6 seconds off. Why not run the one last play of the qtr and use the 6 seconds?


I don't think the clock stops when you run out of bounds until the last 2 minutes of each half. It will stop momentarily until the ball is spotted but then it restarts. Not 100% sure on this though.
Feb 7, 2011 9:19pm
Ironman92's avatar

Ironman92

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Feb 7, 2011 9:20 PM
Yeah, the clock doesn't stop when you run out of bounds for the majority of the game.....seems strange....but it's very consistent.


sleeper....I didn't lose anything....THANKS for not knowing the answer either.
Feb 7, 2011 9:20pm
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wildcats20

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Feb 7, 2011 9:22 PM
Doesn't the clock stop when you are tackled out of bounds? But doesn't when you go out of bounds on your own or going backward?

I could swear I've heard announcers say this...
Feb 7, 2011 9:22pm
karen lotz's avatar

karen lotz

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Feb 7, 2011 9:26 PM
Couldn't really find anything definitive to I92's question on nfl.com.
Fouls that occur in the last five minutes of the fourth quarter as well as the last two minutes of the first half will result in the clock starting on the snap.
I did see this though, which would maybe mean that the clock does start again after penalties if the clock was running prior to the penalty being called?
Feb 7, 2011 9:26pm
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karen lotz

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Feb 7, 2011 9:27 PM
wildcats20;669288 wrote:Doesn't the clock stop when you are tackled out of bounds? But doesn't when you go out of bounds on your own or going backward?

I could swear I've heard announcers say this...


from NFL.com
With the exception of the last two minutes of the first half and the last five minutes of the second half, the game clock will be restarted following a kickoff return, a player going out of bounds on a play from scrimmage, or after declined penalties when appropriate on the referee’s signal.
Feb 7, 2011 9:27pm
Ironman92's avatar

Ironman92

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Feb 7, 2011 9:37 PM
penalty was accepted
Feb 7, 2011 9:37pm
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Al Bundy

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Feb 7, 2011 9:58 PM
Ironman92;669260 wrote:Yesterday in the SB with 6:50 left in the game Green Bay was tackled in bounds and the 35 second clock began with 6:45 left.....but at 6:20 Green Bay player false started.......clock stopped at 6:19.....Green Bay went back to huddle and GAME CLOCK began and the ball was not snapped until there was 5:56 on the game clock and they could've taken it down to 5:46 (10 seconds on 35 second clock when ball was snapped)


What is the rule? Did anyone else see this? I just didn't understand how the team who committed the error got to run extra time off the clock which would not had been possible had they not false started.

The 14 seconds could've been 24 seconds.......coulda been huge.


What is the rule?

********GREEN BAY WAS BETTER AND FAR DESERVING OF THE WIN......this is not a bitchfest....I don't know the rule.
Last play determines if clock is dead or rolling. In the situation you described, the clock was moving so it continues to move until time rules for end of half are in effect.
Feb 7, 2011 9:58pm
Laley23's avatar

Laley23

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Feb 7, 2011 10:23 PM
Clock DOES stop whenever the player runs out of bounds, but will start back up with the placing of the football for the next play. This occurs until under I think 6 minutes in each half (maybe less time in first half).

EDIT on penalties: (see post above). I guess its just the play beforehand.
Feb 7, 2011 10:23pm
Laley23's avatar

Laley23

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Feb 7, 2011 10:26 PM
wildcats20;669288 wrote:Doesn't the clock stop when you are tackled out of bounds? But doesn't when you go out of bounds on your own or going backward?

I could swear I've heard announcers say this...

Stops when your going out of bounds while still gaining yards. Stops when you got out of bounds because of force and forward progress is further up. If you go out by yourself, it will always stop.

It will resume however, on the play clock whistle, as I mentioned above.
Feb 7, 2011 10:26pm
GoPens's avatar

GoPens

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Feb 7, 2011 10:31 PM
They changed the rule to this about 10 years ago (heck maybe it was longer) to speed up the game.
Feb 7, 2011 10:31pm
OQB's avatar

OQB

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Feb 7, 2011 11:33 PM
Thanks guys, I guess I just didn't hear the whistle to spot the ball...I just saw players walking off the field and I was like wait their is one more play. Thanks for clearing it up for me.
Feb 7, 2011 11:33pm
GOONx19's avatar

GOONx19

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Feb 8, 2011 12:41 AM
There's no 35 second clock in the NFL.
Feb 8, 2011 12:41am
Ironman92's avatar

Ironman92

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Feb 8, 2011 8:11 AM
How long is it? The PLAY clock? Whatever it is......that rule is not a good one! Geesh....the team that gets penalized actually gets to run extra time off the clock? Super Dumb.....it barely speeds up the game and gives the team that errors an advantage if they are a leading. Not a good rule by any means.
Feb 8, 2011 8:11am
S

Sonofanump

Feb 8, 2011 9:10 AM
To condense previous statements and answer other questions:
The running play clock is 40 seconds. The play clock after an administrative (TO, foul, injury on offensive) stoppage is 25 seconds.
The game clock stops for out of bounds plays and then is restarted after the ball is set for play, the 40 second play clock is running at this time.
The timing rules change back under 2 minutes in first half and 5 minutes in second half.
If the offensive commits a false start outside 5 minutes in the second half, the game clock will restart.
Feb 8, 2011 9:10am
S

Sonofanump

Feb 8, 2011 9:12 AM
wildcats20;669288 wrote:Doesn't the clock stop when you are tackled out of bounds? But doesn't when you go out of bounds on your own or going backward?

I could swear I've heard announcers say this...

Don't confuse progress with out of bounds. If a player is contacted in bounds and the tackle ends the play not going out of bounds then the game clock continues to run. This would also be true if the player is driven backwards out of bounds, i.e. forward progress is stopped and that ended the play.
Feb 8, 2011 9:12am
GOONx19's avatar

GOONx19

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Feb 8, 2011 1:08 PM
Ironman92;669712 wrote:How long is it? The PLAY clock? Whatever it is......that rule is not a good one! Geesh....the team that gets penalized actually gets to run extra time off the clock? Super Dumb.....it barely speeds up the game and gives the team that errors an advantage if they are a leading. Not a good rule by any means.

Sonofanump got it, 40 or 25 seconds.
Feb 8, 2011 1:08pm
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thavoice

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Feb 8, 2011 3:14 PM
Dont know if anyone answered it yet...

In the NFL.....the clock starts when the ball is placed for play even if the play goes out of bounds. It is that way for the WHOLE game except for the last two minutes of the first half, and the last 5 minutes of the ballgame

I just saw sonofanump answered it as well.

It has been a rule for as long as I can remember, and I usually have to explain it to someone at least once an NFL season I didnt know that many people did not know that rule. It is what keeps the NFL games, for the most part, in a nice and neat window of time.

I forget what college does. THey USED to stop the clock the whole time until the ball was snapped when a runner goes out of bounds....butu I know a couple years ago they changed timing rules in college so I do not know what they went to. That was ONE of the reasons (pass happy, lots scoring..longer half) that made the CFB last sooooooo long and harder for TV to schedule around
Feb 8, 2011 3:14pm
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thavoice

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Feb 8, 2011 3:15 PM
As for not a good rule......eh........its been that way for as long as I can remember it to be honest with ya. I dont mind it..matter of fact I think it helps keep the game moving along.
Feb 8, 2011 3:15pm
Ironman92's avatar

Ironman92

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Feb 8, 2011 3:19 PM
on penalties in that situation it save a minimal amount of time to the viewers.....and gives a marginal advantage to the team of error.
Feb 8, 2011 3:19pm
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karen lotz

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Feb 8, 2011 3:20 PM
I think college football has gone to a more NFL like timing system, except for the clock stopping on first downs. If the ball carrier goes out of bounds, the clock is stopped until the ball is spotted again and then it starts. Not sure about what parts of the 2nd and 4th quarters it stops until the snap though.
Feb 8, 2011 3:20pm
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thavoice

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Feb 8, 2011 3:28 PM
Thanks. I knew they changed them a bit but also knew it was not exactly like the NFL. THey had some stupid timing rule on kickoffs for a season...was so stupid but changed it. It was one of the reasons why games lasted close to 4 hours. I remember reading lots of articles on the length of CFB because of the timing rules.
Feb 8, 2011 3:28pm
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Laley23

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Feb 8, 2011 3:48 PM
Ironman92;670323 wrote:on penalties in that situation it save a minimal amount of time to the viewers.....and gives a marginal advantage to the team of error.

You can say that, and its true to an extent. But I bet most people would agree that they would rather take the penalty to the offense and have another 20ish seconds run off with the better chance at getting the ball back, than not. I know you are saying it should be both...but at some point the game HAS to move along, and 5 minute mark in the 4th quarter is, imo, a good time.

5 minutes of stopping time at the end of the game is ample time for a team to make the stops and score to get back in it. If they cant...they were down by too much to have any argument fall on my ears.
Feb 8, 2011 3:48pm