Help Needed - Clarification On Punt Return Rule

[SpiritOf77]

During the Broncos vs Steelers playoff game, the Broncos' Jordan Norwood picked up ball that had been punted, and subsequently touched by the Steelers .. I have embedded the GIF below ..

The play was nullified by a penalty on the Broncos for having the team come off the sideline before the play was dead ..

My question is: Would this play have stood as a touchdown, even though Shamarko Thomas ( #29 ) touched the ball ?? ( ..these was also the question whether Thomas was out of bounds when he touched the ball, but we'll ignore that for now )

Is a player on the receiving team allowed to advance the ball after a player on the kicking team touches it as Thomas did ??

My impression is that it is still a live ball, and Norwood's TD would have stood had the Broncos players not come onto the field thinking the play was dead ..

Thanks guys !!

 

[JMR]

Yes, you can advance it and it would have been a TD. Section 2, article 2. Also, if after "first touching" the receiving team fumbles the ball away, they can elect to have it at the spot of the first touching by the kicking team. So in the case of the play above, the receiving team risks very little by attempting a return after a member of the kicking team first touches the punt once it has traveled beyond the LOS.

 

[SpiritOf77]

Yes, you can advance it and it would have been a TD. Section 2, article 2. Also, if after "first touching" the receiving team fumbles the ball away, they can elect to have it at the spot of the first touching by the kicking team. So in the case of the play above, the receiving team risks very little by attempting a return after a member of the kicking team first touches the punt once it has traveled beyond the LOS.

Thanks JMR

 

[Davis_Mike]

Yep, no risk to the return team once it has been touched by punting team. Free advance with no repercussions if you don't commit a penalty during the return. Even fumbling it won't cost you possession.

 

[Duffman]

During the Broncos vs Steelers playoff game,

I think you meant regular season game because Denver is wearing White. Other than that great stuff.