Chiefs Left Wanting Explanation Following Kickoff Return Safety

From the debut of players wearing the new guardian caps in an actual game to the new kickoff rules, among other things, there was plenty for fans to watch during this past weekend's slate of preseason games.

The Kansas City Chiefs found themselves at odds with one of these. During their 26-13 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars , they were the victims of one of the new kickoff rules.

With Mecole Hardman and Deneric Prince back deep to receive the kickoff following the last touchdown of the first half, they allowed the ball to go over their head and into the end zone, where they believed it would be called a touchback.

However, the football had other ideas as it bounced back onto the one-yard line, where Hardman scrambled to go back and kneel in the endzone while touching the ball to be called dead.

While the officials initially blew the whistle to call it a touchback, a booth review saw the call overturned into safety as the ball left the endzone before Hardman, who was knelt behind the goal line, technically brought it back in.

“I think they’re trying to work that out," Chiefs coach Andy Reid said of the call, "Normally when a ball goes in the end zone and you touch it there, then it’s a dead ball, but we’ll get it cleared up and see what they come up with."

After being on the right side of the NFL's overtime rules in the Super Bowl, where members of the San Francisco 49ers reportedly didn't know that both teams get a possession unless there is a safety, the Chiefs were on the wrong side of the rulebook this time.

Although, as Hardman noted post-game, thankfully, this all happened in their first preseason game and not later on.

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“It’s a rule they’re going to have to figure out,” Hardman said. “I’m glad it happened in the preseason. A lot of teams can learn from it.”

The Chiefs will certainly be looking to correct this misunderstanding of the rule by the time they take the field Saturday at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium, where they'll host the Detroit Lions. The kickoff between the Chiefs and Lions is scheduled for 3 p.m. CT.