There are few mistakes that get football coaches more upset than a muffed punt. If you’re a punt returner, you should always catch the ball. It’s that simple.
But Sunday’s Week 3 game between the Arizona Cardinals and Jacksonville Jaguars appeared to bring the one excusable muffed punt.
As the Jaguars punted on their opening drive, Cardinals receiver Rondale Moore couldn’t haul in the punt near the sideline and looked all confused as the ball deflected away. In real time, it would be easy to get frustrated with Moore. But the replays showed exactly what happened:
The penalty flag hit the ball.
#AZCardinals ref throws flag and hits football and deflecting off; why Rondale Moore dropped #RedSea #AZvsJAX pic.twitter.com/Kz6tppLTtq
— Arizona Sports Fan (@SportsAzFan) September 26, 2021
The Cardinals were called for an illegal block on the play, and that penalty flag amazingly struck the ball in mid-flight. The Cardinals ended up retaining possession there, so the fluke mid-air collision didn’t impact the game.
And it was exactly that: a fluke.
That ref could have thousands of tries to hit a punt with a penalty flag and never come close again. The Jaguars should probably be thankful that it happened too because Moore was awfully dangerous when he had a chance to return a punt.
#AZCardinals Rondale Moore is fun #RedSea #AZvsJAX pic.twitter.com/a0huU5ycaT
— Arizona Sports Fan (@SportsAzFan) September 26, 2021
Can’t even be mad about that.
