NFL fans have had their fair share of issues with how the game has been officiated as of late. Fox’s Dean Blandino believes that this could change if the league decided to implement one XFL rule that he believes has been “successful” for them.
Currently, penalties made by officials are not challengable in the NFL, which is to prevent games from slowing in pace. However, this leads to important moments in games being decided by penalties that are often times questionable at best.
In the XFL, coaches are only given one opportunity per game to challenge a play. However, that includes the ability to challenge anything on any given play, whether that be a spot call on the field or a questionable penalty by officials.
In an interview with Ari Meirov of The 33rd Team, Blandino shared his opinion of this rule working in the XFL, adding that he sees this as a possibility to improve the product in the NFL as well.
“Our experience was really good (in the XFL),” said Blandino of the challenge rule. “It was a great experience for our coaches, for myself, the people who worked in the command center. But it did work. I think the NFL could do it. We have seen teams propose changes like this before to make roughing the passer reviewable. We had pass interference reviewable in 2019, which didn’t work. But I don’t think it was a poor rule change, it was the application. If you can find a consistent standard and stick to that standard, you can open up replays to other areas.”
The XFL gave coaches one opportunity per game to challenge anything—facemask, pass interference, roughing, you name it.
But only one time. @DeanBlandino says it worked in the XFL. Would the NFL ever bring that into the game? https://t.co/lPJJC91tvQ pic.twitter.com/j0kmFrF6Vp
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) January 23, 2024
On paper, this rule from the XFL certainly seems like it could work in the NFL. It would present teams one chance to overturn a referee mistake per game, which is arguably the most aggravating part of watching games for fans at home.
Only time will tell whether this rule does end up going into place in the NFL soon. But Blandino sure seems like this could be coming sooner rather than later.
