Horse Collar Penalty Stopped the Clock?!

[bringbackbrownie2]

I'm not really sure the penalty should have been called on the ravens when the defender tried to tackle Ogbonnaya because he didn't really pull down on the jersey for that long. But that aside, did anyone else realize that the penalty call could have cost us the game? For some reason the penalty call stopped the clock despite the fact the play was still in bounds. The Ravens were able to save their last timeout when we had three downs to run more clock. If the penalty is not called, the Ravens would have been forced to take their final timeout before our 1st down run, which would have allowed us to kneel down three straight plays and end the game. Instead, we had to run the ball a few more times and risk McGahee or another RB fumbling the ball or field goal block, etc.

 

I don't understand why a defensive penalty would stop the clock. Since that is obviously the case, any defense could easily take advantage of this by purposely getting a penalty after giving up a first down play. The extra yardage given up isn't that big a deal since the clock would stop at that point. I think a rule change is in order. What do you guys think?

[Suomi]

I think GO BROWNS! Enjoy the win!

[Tour2ma]

Like it or not, given the time remaining in the game, the stoppage was in accordance with the rules.

 

http://www.nfl.com/rulebook/timingfinal

 

Timing in Final Two Minutes of Each Half

1. On kickoff, clock does not start until the ball has been legally touched by player of either team in the field of play. (In all other cases, clock starts with kickoff.)
2. A team cannot buy an excess time out for a penalty. However, a fourth time out is allowed without penalty for an injured player, who must be removed immediately. A fifth time out or more is allowed for an injury and a five-yard penalty is assessed if the clock was running. Additionally, if the clock was running and the score is tied or the team in possession is losing, the ball cannot be put in play for at least 10 seconds on the fourth or more time out. The half or game can end while those 10 seconds are run off on the clock.
3. If the defensive team is behind in the score and commits a foul when it has no time outs left in the final 40 seconds of either half, the offensive team can decline the penalty for the foul and have the time on the clock expire.
4. 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.

 

[slowburn]

 

Like it or not, given the time remaining in the game, the stoppage was in accordance with the rules.

 

http://www.nfl.com/rulebook/timingfinal

 

Timing in Final Two Minutes of Each Half

1. On kickoff, clock does not start until the ball has been legally touched by player of either team in the field of play. (In all other cases, clock starts with kickoff.)
2. A team cannot buy an excess time out for a penalty. However, a fourth time out is allowed without penalty for an injured player, who must be removed immediately. A fifth time out or more is allowed for an injury and a five-yard penalty is assessed if the clock was running. Additionally, if the clock was running and the score is tied or the team in possession is losing, the ball cannot be put in play for at least 10 seconds on the fourth or more time out. The half or game can end while those 10 seconds are run off on the clock.
3. If the defensive team is behind in the score and commits a foul when it has no time outs left in the final 40 seconds of either half, the offensive team can decline the penalty for the foul and have the time on the clock expire.
4. 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.

 

 

 

 

thanx for clearing that up