Why do teams decline a penalty in NFL?
WILD card weekend is upon us which means we are expected to see several penalties awarded - but some NFL teams will decline them.
The battle for a Super Bowl spot on Sunday, February 11 is well and truly underway as teams across the country chase the NFL's ultimate prize.
And fans can expect some twists and turns along the way, especially in the form of controversial penalty decisions.
However, a penalty isn't always welcomed as you might assume it should be.
Why do teams decline a penalty in NFL?
An offensive team would most commonly decline a penalty in the NFL when the result of play gets them further down the field than the penalty would.
An example is if the receiver catches the pass regardless of the penalty and advances the ball farther from where the foul was committed, then the pass interference would be declined.
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The team in offense generally waves off an off-side call when the resulting play ends with a first down.
There are also occasions when the defensive team chooses to decline a penalty but it is rare.
Defensive teams generally decline a pass interference when the team in offense faces a fourth-down situation where they would have to punt or kick a field goal.
What is a penalty given for?
Penalties are given when a flag is thrown for either side and they occur when there is a pass interference or a personal foul.
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A personal foul is when the referee spots dangerous play such as a mighty blow to the head or low block and it results in a 15-yard penalty from the end of the play and an automatic first down.
Whereas a pass interference penalty usually earns the offensive team the most yards.
If the ref throws a flag for a pass interference then the ball is marked from the spot of the foul if committed outside 15 yards.
However, if engaged within 15 yards from the line of scrimmage, the ball will be advanced 15 yards and it's an automatic first down. Should the offensive player commit a pass interference play, the ball is placed 10 yards behind the previous spot.
But despite all that, off-sides and false starts tend to be the most common flags thrown.
What is the NFL Wild Card schedule?
The 2023/24 NFL Playoffs start off with the Wild Card Weekend which gets underway on Saturday, January 13 before concluding on Monday, January 15.
And the slate features two games on Saturday, three on Sunday, January 14 and one on Monday, January 15.
Saturday, January 13
- AFC: Cleveland Browns (5) vs Houston Texans (4) 4.30pm ET on NBC
- AFC: Miami Dolphins (6) vs Kansas City Chiefs (3) 8.15pm ET on Peacock
Sunday, January 14
- AFC: Pittsburgh Steelers (7) vs Buffalo Bills (2) 1pm ET on CBS
- NFC: Green Bay Packers (7) vs Dallas Cowboys (2) 4.30pm ET on Fox
- NFC: Los Angeles Rams (6) vs Detroit Lions (3) 8.15pm ET on NBC
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Monday, January 15
- NFC: Philadelphia Eagles (4) vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers (5) 8pm ET on ESPN