Vic Fangio, a Eagles' shrewd defensive coordinator, observed full of great pride as his defense forced a third and long failed pass on Sunday, leaving the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 47 yards from the Eagles’ goal line with just four seconds left in the first half.
In the old days, this could have resulted in a desperation throw into the end zone. But instead Bucs specialist Chase McLaughlin trotted on the turf and coolly sent a 65-yard three-pointer into the super-heated Florida air, equaling the second-longest in league annals.
Chase McLaughlin nails a 65 yard FG at the end the first half 💥
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McLaughlin later kicked a long kick that put the Buccaneers a score down with 12 minutes in the game. Philadelphia managed to escape with a 31-25 victory, but Fangio pointed to one culprit: the specially prepared kicking balls which teams are permitted to work on for use in games.
“In years past,” the coach stated during a press briefing this week, “the officials would prepare them or other people would handle them, and you’d use them. Now the balls are in-house all week and they kick those specific balls that they’ve had, and nobody else handling them.”
Referring to Dallas' brilliant kicker, Brandon Aubrey, Fangio said: “The guy in Dallas is going to make a 70-plus yard field goal this season. You should book it … Honestly, who thought they would hit a 65-yarder the other day? Thus it has significantly altered the game, special teams and placekicking. Kickers have greater distance than they used to.”
Rule Changes and Revitalized Kicking Units
The NFL seems to have (successfully) restored kicking to the NFL. With several regulation adjustments over recent seasons, NFL special teams performance is now a significantly more crucial element affecting the outcome of games. This is viewed as a positive development.
“The NFL desires higher scoring? There it is,” Michael Clay, said Tuesday.
Those newfangled kickoff formations might still look artificial (the president himself has stated claiming they are “bad for football”), however, with the rules tweaked further so again season, they have dramatically led to more action. Teams are scoring 23.4 points each game, second-highest ever recorded.
Return Game plus The Target Area
Through four weeks, per Pro Football Reference, league clubs are posting 103.2 yards gained on returns each outing, an all-time high – and over four times the mean of 24.9 yards per squad last year, following which the NFL altered its entire kickoff process. Just 16.5% of kickoff attempts in 2025 have ended as dead balls, compared with 73% the previous season.
Most notably, the league promotes kickoff attempts dropping in a “landing zone” extending 20 yards from the goal line. Consequently, kickoffs are skillfully positioned, looking similar to coffin-corner kicks. Previously, kickers would simply blasted kickoffs beyond the end zone for touchbacks – but doing that now leads to possession starting at the 35-yard line.
In a prior game, during a 33-26 win over the Rams, Philadelphia experienced significant difficulties fielding the unpredictable, bouncing, bouncing kickoffs from the Rams' kicker, the Rams second-year specialist, with five Philadelphia possessions starting at or inside the 20-yard line.
But specialists can’t simply send low kicks to the other team and expect mishandles. The kicks have to hit the surface, or be received, within the landing zone. After the Cardinals had tied last Thursday’s game versus the Seahawks with 28 seconds to play, Chad Ryland sent a kick that landed one yard short of the target area.
Penalties and Game-Deciding Moments
The penalty was costly: Seattle received the ball on the 40, less than 20 yards beyond the range for kicker Jason Myers. Following a 22-yard completion and a 4-yard run, Myers – who previously missed a long attempt – made a 52-yard attempt to secure the Seahawks a 23-20 victory.
Upon being questioned during his post-game news conference what the kicker aimed to accomplish there, Cardinals coach Jonathan Gannon stated, “Keep the ball in play. That's among the things we talk about in late-game situations considering the amount of stoppages, time, their needs on the field. We aimed to use up some time there.”
Rejected Attempts and Special Teams Impact
The livelier kickoffs seem to have influenced the other aspects of special teams. There have already been 16 rejected kicks, placekicks and extra points so far this year. The Cowboys blocked an point after attempt Sunday in a 40-40 tie with Green Bay, as Dallas defensive back Markquese Bell returning it 80 yards for a safety, a safety for Dallas. That was just the 10th occurrence that has happened since being permitted a decade ago.
A Bears player rejected Daniel Carlson’s 54-yard field-goal try in the final half-minute left allowing the Chicago Bears to hold on for 25-24 victory over the Raiders. Following rejecting two kicks against the Rams – the second of which might have won the game for Los Angeles but led to a game-ending Philadelphia touchdown – Philadelphia blocked a punt versus Tampa Bay and ran it back for an early-game touchdown.
Tactical Play and Evolving Methods
At the same time, Eagles veteran kicker Jake Elliott continued trapping the Buccaneers deep with skillful kickoff placements inside the target area. Tampa Bay began six possessions following his kickoffs at the average of the 22-yard line. His first kickoff fell in the landing zone and rolled into the goal area for a stoppage. In those circumstances, the Bucs had to start from their 20-yard line.
“He does an unbelievable role in aiming to master everything he does,” the coach noted. “Be it a placekick, whether it’s kickoff, a lot of work goes into them in terms of behind the scenes. We practiced outside, {I know|I
