The 2024 NFL season officially kicked off Thursday night with a bang, as the Baltimore Ravens faced off against the Kansas City Chiefs in a highly-anticipated matchup. But the buzz surrounding the game wasn’t just about the high-scoring action on the field – it was also about the surprising number of penalties being called on offensive-line formations.
The Ravens, in particular, had a rough start to the game, racking up multiple flags for illegal formation in just the first half alone. Left tackle Ronnie Stanley was the main culprit, drawing three separate penalties for the same infraction. Fans and experts alike were left scratching their heads, wondering why there was such a sudden surge in calls for illegal formation.
According to Football Zebras, the NFL had made illegal formation a point of emphasis for the 2024 season. This meant that any failure to align properly with seven players on the line of scrimmage at the start of an offensive play would be closely monitored and penalized. The Competition Committee had deemed the practice of offensive tackles lining up “off” the line as an unfair advantage, especially in pass rush situations.
“The formation fouls were reviewed with teams extensively before, during, and after training camps by the officiating department,” Football Zebras reported. “The bowing of the linemen is an advantage in pass rush situations, and the [NFL’s] Competition Committee said it had to be shut down.”
As a result of this renewed emphasis on the rule, Thursday’s game saw a flurry of illegal formation calls. But what does this mean for the rest of the season? Will we see a continued trend of penalties, or will teams adjust and adapt as the weeks go on?
CBS Sports rules analyst Gene Steratore offered some insight, pointing out that the first week of the NFL season is often a wake-up call for both players and officials. After a long offseason, getting back into the rhythm of full-speed NFL action takes time, and mistakes are bound to happen. As teams settle into their groove and officials gain more experience with game speed, we can expect to see a decrease in illegal formation calls in the coming weeks.
So while the spotlight may have been on the plethora of penalties in Thursday’s game, there’s no need for fans to panic. The 2024 NFL season is just getting started, and with each week brings new challenges and adjustments for both teams and officials. It’s all part of the game, and as the season unfolds, we can expect to see a more polished and finely-tuned product on the field.