Lions’ proposed rule change would be a major benefit for NFL defenses

Underneath the NFL’s present guidelines, an unlawful contact or defensive holding penalty leads to a five-yard loss for the protection and an automated first down for the offense.

Underneath Detroit’s proposal, offenses would now not obtain an automated first down following both penalty.

When providing a cause for the proposal, the Lions wrote, “Aggressive fairness. Present penalty enforcement is simply too punitive for the protection.”

A number of guidelines designed to enhance participant security have made it tougher for defenders to do their jobs, from hits in opposition to defenseless receivers to roughing the passer penalties. Final yr, the NFL banned hip-drop tackles, rising the issue degree for defensive gamers.

The league might lastly amend a rule favoring defenses by adopting Detroit’s proposal.

It is a cheap request. If a defender commits a holding penalty on a third-and-25, it makes extra sense for an offense to have one other down at third-and-20 as a substitute of a first-and-10.

If the NFL needs to forestall defenses from exploiting the rule, it might make consecutive defensive holding or unlawful contact penalties an automated first down.

The Lions aren’t merely fascinated by what’s finest for defenses out of the kindness of their hearts. They’ve an ulterior motive for wanting the rule amended. Per NFL Penalties, Detroit led the league in accepted defensive holding penalties (11) in 2024.

Nevertheless, simply because Detroit can be a major beneficiary of a rule change doesn’t suggest it ought to be dismissed. It would not harm the NFL to consider defenses for a change.