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As it normally does after each controversy laden season, the NFL decided to tweak a few rules. What does it all mean? I shall tell you.

Rule change #1: No more force out

This is a rule change that had to be made, but mark it down now—it’s going to be problematic. The league’s goal is to remove judgment calls, but what will happen when a receiver jumps to catch a ball and the defensive back gets under him and carries him out of bounds? His feet never touch the ground. Was his forward progress stopped? Officials are still going to have to make judgment calls about that kind of stuff.

My other problem with this rule is it will effect the game way more than people think. Generally there’s only one to two force out calls each game, but that’s because defensive backs aren’t trying force receivers out. Now that force outs are legal I think we’ll see 5 to 10 force out-related incompletions each game. Passing attacks will suffer.

Rule change #2: Coin toss winners can defer to the 2nd half

Basically, the winner of the opening coin toss can now declare themselves the loser. If teams were rational, they would never choose to receive the opening kick. Second half possessions are more valuable. Teams should be trying to get as many of them as possible. I’d be shocked if Bill Belichick ever declines to defer.

Rule Change #3: Field Goals are reviewable

The Phil Dawson rule. I predict the first 10 field goal related challenges are upheld based on inconclusiveness.

Rule Change #4: No more 5-yard facemask

Overall, I have a problem with facemask penalties because the foul generally doesn’t affect the play. For example, an offensive hold can turn a sack into a touchdown pass. That penalty needs to be called. But a facemask turns a three yard run into a two-and-a-half yard run. A 15-yard penalty is not a fair price to pay, especially since 95% of facemaks infractions are unintentional.

It probably would have been better to outlaw the 15 yarders, but the NFL can’t do that because it send a bad message about acceptable violence. We’ll have to wait and see how this rule change plays out, but if it results in fewer overall facemask penalties, that’s a good thing.

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