Atlanta Falcons defensive back Natron Brooks almost scored a touchdown on special teams after the Dallas Cowboys attempted a fake punt inside their own 40-yard-line. He exploited an obscure NFL rule to completely blow up the horrible attempt at a trick play.
Pass interference does not exist on fake punts!
Mike McCarthy, who already smashed his tablet after a failed fourth-down conversion earlier in the game, decided to go for it again on the first offensive drive of the third quarter. Punter Bryan Anger lined up at his own 24-yard-line, took the snap and immediately threw over to his right.
Defensive back C.J. Goodwin, split out as a gunner, was the intended target— but the ball never got there. Brooks threw Goodwin to the ground and stepped in front of the throw. It hit him in the hands!
#dallascowboys fake punt goes very wrong… pic.twitter.com/ctN6lArCGt
— Pat Doney (@PatDoneyNBC5) November 3, 2024
What should’ve been a pick-six the other way fell to the turf as an incomplete pass for a turnover on downs. Atlanta scored its third touchdown of the game shortly thereafter.
The play call was terrible. McCarthy sent out his punter to pass on fourth down in Dallas territory instead of his $240 million quarterback. That was a terrible idea.
To make it even worse, he had Anger throw to the outside.
A lesser-known rule in the NFL makes that a very bad idea. When a team is in punt formation and attempts a fake, pass interference cannot be called on the widest man on either side of the formation.
In this specific instance, Goodwin was the widest man on the right side of the formation. That left him completely exposed. Brooks could’ve, quite literally, wrapped him up around the waist and tackled him to the ground as if he was a ball-carrier in the open field without being called for a penalty.
And, to some extend, he did!
Brooks grabbed Godwin and wrestled him down as soon as Anger went to pass. It was completely legal.