Could a team avoid losing by constantly going offsides?

Question

Ok so there are just a few seconds left on the clock. Your team is down by like 50 points and the other team has the ball. But to avoid losing, the coach orders his defensive players to go offsides every play. They keep getting penalties, half the distance to the goal line again and again. But the clock doesn't run after a defensive penalty, the game never ends. And its really flagrant that they're going offsides, no way the refs could miss it. So the game never ends and your team can't lose. I used to do this on Madden and my brother would get soooo mad. Why don't NFL teams do this to avoid taking a loss?

Answer 1

wo. man i never really thought about it!!!!

that is great. im going to do it against my uncle in madden now. haha.

Oops! It looks like you have 3 misspelling(s).

Answer 2

Ummm . . . hello? Do you watch FOOTBALL AT ALL???

There is a reason why Refs give the opportunity for a team to ACCEPT or DECLINE the penalty.

The play only goes on and on if the opposing (winning) team accepts the penalty. If they decline the penalty, the time clock runs out and the game is over.

Every penalty can be decline or accepted in the real game, not Madden, but on some penalties its just commen sense to give it without having to ask if they want to accept or decline it.

But still, every penalty is given a chance to accept or decline, thus, your engenious plan is nothing more than dumb.

Also, the refs can also warn a "forfeit" if a team does do that asenining play you say.

Answer 3

Sorry but the NFL has already thought of that.

"If the defensive team is behind in the score and commits a foul when it has no time outs left in the final 40 seconds of either half, the offensive team can decline the penalty for the foul and have the time on the clock expire. "

Go to the bottom of the last link. The ref can award the TD anyways. Sorry.

retstocks is incorrect with his definition. The game cannot end with a defensive penalty. Which means that if the defense commits a penalty at the end of the game the offense(if they accept the penalty) can replay the down. It prevents the winning defense from commiting a penalty and taking the chance of scoring away from the offense.

http://www.nfl.com/rulebook/foulonlastpl...

Answer 4

Because the NFL is a league of PROFESSIONALS.  Professionals don't act like whiny little children just because they are losing.  Your tactic is classless, and frankly if you are someone who uses it blatantly then you are too.

Answer 5

Yeah, that sounds really neat, but there is a rule in the NFL that prevents this. The penalties would simply be declined and the game would end.

But I WILL be trying this on Madden, now, thanks to you.

Answer 6

So just a never ending game?  Suppose its possible but why really?

Once you've lost you admit it and move on imo.  Get 'em next time

Answer 7

LMAO!! surprised the patriots should have thought of this in the superbowl lol!!

Answer 8

ur a f****kin genius   lmao

Answer 9

thats dumb, just take the loss like a man(even if it it did happen they would make a rule that after so many consecutive offsides the team is disqualified)

Answer 10

The rule that says "the game cannot end on a defensive penalty" is intended to protect the offensive team at the end of the game.

In this hypothetical the offense has a huge lead and does not need the play so the referee would simply not call the penalty and the game would end.

But I like the way you think! I am looking for any way to stop my niners from going 0 and 16 this year!