The offseason often serves as a time for reflection across the NFL — a chance for teams to evaluate not just their rosters, but the structure of the game itself. This year, the Los Angeles Rams are stepping into that conversation in a significant way, proposing two new rule changes aimed at eliminating confusion surrounding two-point conversions.
Their motivation stems from a late-season game that left players, coaches, and officials grappling with a rare and chaotic scoring sequence. While controversial
calls are nothing new in professional football, the Rams believe this particular moment exposed deeper issues in how the game defines control, possession, and continuation during one of its most high-leverage plays.
Rather than dwelling on the outcome, the organization is focusing on reform — pushing for clearer rules that prevent future ambiguity.
The Moment That Triggered Action
The situation unfolded in a critical matchup against the Seattle Seahawks late in the 2025 regular season. With the score hanging in the balance, Seattle attempted a two-point conversion following a touchdown. What happened next was anything but straightforward.
The play appeared to end unsuccessfully. Officials reacted as if the pass attempt had failed, and the sequence seemed over. But in the seconds that followed, the ball changed hands again, ending up in the end zone. After review, the play was ruled a successful conversion.
The decision forced overtime and ultimately influenced the outcome of the game — and, by extension, postseason positioning.
For Rams leadership, the issue wasn’t simply whether the call was correct under existing rules. It was that the rules themselves allowed for multiple interpretations of when a play is actually finished.
Head coach Sean McVay later described the moment as uniquely confusing — the kind of sequence that reveals structural gray areas rather than simple officiating error.
Proposed Change No. 1: Backward pass tipped by defensive player
The Los Angeles Rams are pushing for greater consistency in how loose-ball situations are handled — especially during football’s most critical moments. Their first proposed rule change would specifically address what happens when a backward pass is tipped by a defensive player and travels beyond the line of scrimmage.
Under the proposal, that scenario would be treated the same way the league handles a fumble in restricted situations. If the play occurs in the final two minutes of a half, on fourth down, or during any conversion attempt, only the player who lost possession could recover the ball and advance it. If a different offensive teammate recovers the ball, the offense would keep possession — but only at the original spot of the fumble.
The change is designed to close what the Rams view as a competitive loophole. Currently, tipped backward passes that move beyond the line of scrimmage can create chaotic scrambles where multiple offensive players attempt to recover and advance the ball. In high-leverage situations, that can allow a broken play to turn into an unexpected gain simply because the ball bounced favorably.
By treating these tipped backward passes like restricted fumbles, the Rams aim to remove the advantage of opportunistic advancement by players who were not directly involved in the loss of possession.
League officials within the National Football League routinely review rules that affect late-game execution, where single plays can determine outcomes. The Rams’ proposal fits squarely within that focus, emphasizing predictability and fairness when stakes are highest.
If adopted, the change would not eliminate dramatic loose-ball moments — but it would ensure that advancement comes only from the player responsible for the play, reinforcing accountability when every yard matters most.
Proposed Change No. 2: Review Process
The Los Angeles Rams are continuing their push for game-flow improvements with a second proposed rule change focused on replay reviews. This proposal would place a firm time limit on when a replay review can be initiated — either 40 seconds or one minute after the end of a play.
The concept is straightforward: if a replay review is going to happen, it needs to happen quickly. If officials or the replay booth do not signal a review within the designated time window, the result of the play would stand.
In recent seasons, replay review has become an essential part of officiating across the National Football League. While the system helps correct errors and ensure accuracy, it can also slow the pace of games — particularly when there are long pauses before a review is even initiated. The Rams’ proposal is designed to reduce those delays and keep momentum intact.
Supporters of the idea argue that modern technology already allows replay officials to evaluate most plays almost immediately. If an error is clear enough to warrant review, they believe it should be identifiable within seconds, not after extended hesitation.
By imposing a time cap, the Rams hope to create more predictable game management and prevent prolonged uncertainty for players, coaches, and fans. Instead of waiting to see whether a review might occur, everyone on the field would quickly know whether the game will move forward.
If approved, the rule would not change what can be reviewed — only how quickly the process must begin. The goal is simple: maintain accuracy while preserving the pace and rhythm that define professional football.
Why the Rams are proposing these changes…
In the obvious sense, Los Angeles felt like they got the short end of the stick in the Week 16 chaos against the Seattle Seahawks. In a game that they dominated for about 52 minutes, the Rams were soured by a 2 point play that sparked plenty of controversy and social media debate. After the replay review was completed, the Rams still felt like they did not get an adequate response from the officiating crew as to why the process went the way it did.
The other part of this is that Sean McVay is on the NFL competition committee. McVay has always been strong in his stance that the game of football needs to be as such. If other factors take away from the focus of the game, the product becomes watered down with long replays or the sport looking far from its original intent (i.e. the tush push).
The Path Forward
Any formal proposal must be reviewed and approved by ownership across the National Football League. Rule changes require broad consensus, meaning the Rams’ ideas will face scrutiny from teams with differing competitive interests.
But whether or not the proposals pass immediately, their submission signals something important: teams are increasingly willing to challenge rule structures when high-leverage moments expose uncertainty.
Football evolves through these moments of tension. The sport’s rulebook has long been shaped by unusual plays that forced decision-makers to define what once seemed obvious.
At its core, the Rams’ initiative is about competitive clarity. Football will always contain unpredictable bounces, improbable recoveries, and split-second decisions. That unpredictability is part of its appeal.
What the Rams want to eliminate is uncertainty in how those moments are judged.
If their proposals succeed, future two-point attempts may unfold under stricter, more transparent standards — ensuring that when a play appears over, it truly is, and when a conversion counts, everyone understands exactly why.
In a league built on inches and instants, clarity may be the most valuable rule of all.
