The 1985 NFL Season was a year in which the Chicago Bears steamrolled through the season with a 15 – 1 record….and then steamrolled the New England Patriots in Super Bowl XX by a score of 46 – 10….after the Pats had beaten the Los Angeles Raiders in the AFC Divisional Playoffs by a score of 27 – 20….then struck down the Miami Dolphins by a score of 31 -14 in the AFC Championship game.
However, the 1985 season was equally famous for all of the rule changes that took place in the NFL that season as follows:
*** Whenever a team time out is called after the two-minute warning of each half or overtime, it should only last a minute instead of 90 seconds.
***A play is immediately dead anytime the quarterback performs a kneel-down (the quarterback immediately kneels down after receiving the snap) after the two-minute warning of each half, or whenever the player declares himself down by sliding feet first on the ground. The ball is then spotted at the point where the player touches the ground first.
*** Pass interference is not to be called whan a pass is clearly uncatchable.
*** Both “Roughing the kicker” and “Running into the kicker” fouls are not to be called if the defensive player was blocked into the kicker.
*** The definition of a valid fair catch signal is clearly defined as one arm that is fully extended above the head and waved from side to side.
*** Goaltending (leaping up to deflect a kick as it passes through the goal posts) is illegal.
*** The officials’ uniform changed slightly. Instead of wearing black stirrups with white stripes over white sanitary hose, the officials began wearing a one-piece sock similar to those worn by players, black with white stripes on top and solid white on the bottom.
*** Defensive backs were ruled to have an “equal right to the ball”, meaning that pass interference would not be called if the defensive player was looking back attempting to intercept the ball, and that any contact with the receiver did not materially affect the receiver’s ability to catch the ball.
As you can see, we at ImaSportsphile not only like to bring these vintage videos for the pleasure of your viewing….but we also like to keep you informed on what was going on in the NFL at the time that this game was being played. ENJOY!!!
