New NFL Helmet Rule Is a Non-factor in Week 1

Through 14 games, the new regulation has been invoked just once.

Cassius Marsh #91 of the Seattle Seahawks hits his helmet against quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick #14 of the New York Jets for a penalty 'Roughing the Passer' in the second quarter at MetLife Stadium on October 2, 2016 in East Rutherford, New Jersey.  (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)
Cassius Marsh #91 of the Seattle Seahawks hits his helmet against quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick #14 of the New York Jets for a penalty 'Roughing the Passer' in the second quarter at MetLife Stadium on October 2, 2016 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)
Getty Images

Fingers crossed, but it appears all the worries about the NFL’s new helmet rule ruining the game may have been much ado about nothing.

Through 14 games in Week 1 of the NFL season, the controversial regulation has resulted in a flag being thrown a total of one time.

That flag, thrown when Kansas City Chiefs defensive back Ron Parker lowered his head to initiate contact with an opponent, is great news for the league as many feared NFL fields would be covered with penalty flags thanks to the new rule.

During the first 33 games of the preseason, refs called 51 helmet rule fouls, an average of 1.55 per game.

That number dipped dramatically in the second half of the preseason after the NFL competition committee reminded officials that inadvertent or incidental contact was not a penalizable offense.

There are still two games to play, but unless officials get flag-happy on Monday Night Football, the NFL will have orchestrated a massive drop in helmet rule penalties since the first two weeks of the preseason.

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