For years, the NFL has adopted rules primarily aimed at benefitting offenses. This offseason, the Detroit Lions have proposed an amendment that could level the playing field.
Per NFL Media, the Lions have pushed for a change in how defensive illegal contact and holding penalties are assessed.
Under the NFL’s current rules, an illegal contact or defensive holding penalty results in a five-yard loss for the defense and an automatic first down for the offense.
Under Detroit’s proposal, offenses would no longer receive an automatic first down following either penalty.
When offering a reason for the proposal, the Lions wrote, “Competitive equity. Current penalty enforcement is too punitive for the defense.”
Several rules designed to improve player safety have made it harder for defenders to do their jobs, from hits against defenseless receivers to roughing the passer penalties. Last year, the NFL banned hip-drop tackles, increasing the difficulty level for defensive players.
The league could finally amend a rule favoring defenses by adopting Detroit’s proposal.
It’s a reasonable request. If a defender commits a holding penalty on a third-and-25, it makes more sense for an offense to have another down at third-and-20 instead of a first-and-10.
If the NFL wants to prevent defenses from exploiting the rule, it could make consecutive defensive holding or illegal contact penalties an automatic first down.
The Lions aren’t simply thinking about what’s best for defenses out of the kindness of their hearts. They have an ulterior motive for wanting the rule amended. Per NFL Penalties, Detroit led the league in accepted defensive holding penalties (11) in 2024.
However, just because Detroit would be a significant beneficiary of a rule change doesn’t mean it should be dismissed. It wouldn’t hurt the NFL to think about defenses for a change.
