Out of Bounds rule

[Sir Lambert]

What is the exact rule for stopping the clock when the ball carrier goes out of bounds?

A couple of weeks ago (against the Colts maybe) our team needed the clock to stop, and Najee had the ball near the sideline. He didn't make an obvious attempt to get out of bounds, but the defense knocked him out of bounds with the ball. The clock kept running. People around here were bitching that Najee didn't look like he was trying to get out of bounds, so that's what made the clock keep running.

Against the Raiders, we wanted the time to run out, with just under 5 minutes remaining in 4Q. Ward had the ball near the sideline, and didn't look like he was trying to out of bounds. The defense knocked him out of bounds. This time, the clock stopped. What was the difference between those 2 situations, with regard to stopping the clock?

[Thrillsseeker]

Najee’s brain fart cost us time because the D hit him and he went “backwards” out of bounds. My understanding is that is why clock continues to run.

[Mick]

I don’t know all the rules, but a big one to be aware of in these examples is forward progress. If you are moving forward when you go out of bounds, it counts as going out of bounds. If you are stopped and your forward progress occurred while you were in bounds, the ‘tackle’ is counted there and the clock keeps moving.

Edit: depending on situation, three different things can happen when player goes out of bounds. Clock keeps tunning, clock stops, or clock stops until ball is set.

[K_C_]

It's all about the runner going out of bounds on his own.

Vs Dallas, Najee literally refused to go OOB like a moron. He tried to stay inbounds so the clock kept running. He didn't understand the situation and that epitomizes Mike Tomlin football.

You will see offensive players fighting like mad to stay inbounds so the clock continues to run while a defensive player tries to force them OOB. When that happens, even if the defender is successful getting the runner OOB, the clock will continue to run.

...and the opposite is true. If an offensive player is trying to get OOB on his own but a defensive player is able to tackle him inbounds, the clock will continue to run.

[Sir Lambert]

That thing about forward progress makes some sense. I don't remember whether or not the ball was moving forward when it went out of bounds in either of those cases.

KC, I was referring to 2 different plays. In both cases, the Steeler ball carrier was near the sidelines, but not actively trying to get out of bounds, and the defense knocked them both out of bounds. In 1 case, the clock stopped, and in the other case, the clock ran.

[Deebo]

It essentially about forward progress. Once that is stopped, the play is considered dead/tackled. If you're not out of bounds when that happens, the clock will run.

With Najee he was in bounds and in the grasp of the defender. Look at the 14:55 mark. Forward progress stopped, THEN he gets pushed OOB
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cx__7U2zXxo

[stillthere]

The clock will also start back up after a temporary stoppage until the last 2 minutes of the half then the clock stays stopped until the next snap. OOB for the first 28 minutes of each half are now treated similarly to the college football first down rule. The clock stops until the ref winds it.

[Jobu]

The clock will also start back up after a temporary stoppage until the last 2 minutes of the half then the clock stays stopped until the next snap. OOB for the first 28 minutes of each half are now treated similarly to the college football first down rule. The clock stops until the ref winds it.

I’m not 100% sure, but I believe it is the last two minutes of the first half, and last five minutes of the game.

[stillthere]

The clock will also start back up after a temporary stoppage until the last 2 minutes of the half then the clock stays stopped until the next snap. OOB for the first 28 minutes of each half are now treated similarly to the college football first down rule. The clock stops until the ref winds it.

I’m not 100% sure, but I believe it is the last two minutes of the first half, and last five minutes of the game.

could be they have tweaked it a few times in the last decade I think.

You are right

Only in the last 2 minutes of the first half and last 5 minutes of the second half. Outside of that the clock is stopped to spot the ball and then it’s starts up again.

[Deebo]

The clock will also start back up after a temporary stoppage until the last 2 minutes of the half then the clock stays stopped until the next snap. OOB for the first 28 minutes of each half are now treated similarly to the college football first down rule. The clock stops until the ref winds it.

I’m not 100% sure, but I believe it is the last two minutes of the first half, and last five minutes of the game.

I thought it was the last FOUR minutes of the game/half. But could be wrong

[Jobu]

The clock will also start back up after a temporary stoppage until the last 2 minutes of the half then the clock stays stopped until the next snap. OOB for the first 28 minutes of each half are now treated similarly to the college football first down rule. The clock stops until the ref winds it.

I’m not 100% sure, but I believe it is the last two minutes of the first half, and last five minutes of the game.

could be they have tweaked it a few times in the last decade I think.

You are right

Only in the last 2 minutes of the first half and last 5 minutes of the second half. Outside of that the clock is stopped to spot the ball and then it’s starts up again.

Thanks. That’s what I thought.