Is it just me, or did anyone notice that the refs moved the ball from the 20 to the 5 yard line on Peterson's PI? I know I am not crazy, but the rule is to move the ball halfway to the goal line. What am I missing? It made a huge difference starting from the 10 as opposed to the 5.
watching the replay right now and you are right. Ball was on 18 and it shouldve been placed at the 9. Refs put in on the three. Maybe they changed the rule in offseason? Either that or refs pulled a Hoculi.
The rule explicitly says that any pass interference in the end zone that occurs within 17 yards of the end zone is automatically spotted at the 2. With that in mind it would seem that half the distance doesn’t apply to pass interference. The penalty is always the spot of the foul, but not to exceed 15 yards or go beyond the 2 yard line. SECTION 3. Forward Pass Illegal Contact and Pass Interference ARTICLE 8. c. Defensive pass interference is contact beyond the neutral zone by a Team B player whose intent to impede an eligible opponent is obvious and it could prevent the opponent the opportunity of receiving a catchable forward pass. PENALTY: Pass interference by Team B: Team A’s ball at the spot of the foul, first down, if the foul occurs less than 15 yards beyond the previous spot. If the foul occurs 15 or more yards beyond the previous spot, Team A’s ball, first down, 15 yards from the previous spot [S33]. When the ball is snapped between the Team B 17-yard line and the Team B two-yard line and the spot of the foul is beyond the two-yard line, the penalty from the previous spot shall place the ball at the two-yard line, first down (A.R. 7-3-8-XVII).
