Onside kick rule change tabled to keep Chiefs from dominating too much

NFL owners tabled new onside kick rules so the Chiefs can’t run up the score.

Last week, NFL reporters were abuzz with the feeling that there was real traction amongst owners to pass a rule changing the way onside kicks worked for the 2020 season. Under the proposed rule change, teams would be able to opt for a 4th-and-15 opportunity from their own 25-yard line, in lieu of the onside attempt.

Unfortunately, when meeting to vote on rule changes for the upcoming season, NFL owners instead decided to table the proposal, per NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero:

Tabling merely means they did not vote down the proposal, but also did not pass it. However, NBC Senior Analyst Albert Breer clarified to say that there was a vote, and the tally was 16-16. Because 24 votes are needed to pass the ruling, it was not really close to becoming reality at this time. However, because they tabled it,  they have given themselves the ability to revisit at a later time.

In fact, Pelissero later clarified that the league’s competition committee has received a directive from commissioner Roger Goodell to solicit feedback on every team and report back to him with possible adjustments needed to reconsider the rule.

For the Chiefs, this is disappointing news. The team boasts the most talented quarterback in football in Super Bowl LIV MVP Patrick Mahomes. And, one of his most impressive traits has been his ability to convert long distance plays to pick up first downs. In addition, Kansas City employs one of the most brilliant offensive minds the game has ever seen in head coach Andy Reid. Given that the rule would not have required teams to be trailing when utilizing it, the Chiefs may have had a golden opportunity to put up even more points on their helpless opposition in 2020.

In fact, the star quarterback himself was apparently amped up about the proposal:

https://twitter.com/PatrickMahomes/status/1263543823004848133?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1263543823004848133&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fbleacherreport.com%2Farticles%2F2892889-chiefs-patrick-mahomes-reacts-to-nfls-onside-kick-change-proposal-on-twitter

Remember, it was a long conversion on 3rd-and-15 that led to the Chiefs running the now infamous WASP, sparking a comeback and ultimate victory in the Super Bowl.

Kansas City averaged 29.9 points per game in 2019, despite many key starters, including Mahomes, missing multiple games due to injury. This offseason, they’ve added an electric backfield threat in rookie first round pick Clyde Edwards-Helaire. As a result, it is unlikely that the Chiefs are fretting this decision too much. Its not like the often need to score more points to win the majority of their games.

Even still, the combination of Reid’s offensive genius and Mahomes’ unparalleled playmaking potential has us salivating over the possibility of scoring twice to end the first half and receiving the second half kickoff, something “Big Red” would have inevitably attempted to do under the would-be rule change.

While the rest of the NFL’s defensive coordinators (and players) rejoice, knowing they’ll not face the prospect of trying to stop Mahomes even more often, as Chiefs fans, we’ll just have to settle for 30 points per game instead of 40. Too bad, so sad.