KC v LAC (Brazil): Pylon pokes, pt. 1

The Pylons article on this website examines in detail how the NFL Rulebook views pylons (not always consistently, we discovered) and makes one fact clear: Pylons are fully, entirely, 100 percent out of bounds.

So why on earth, when a ball carrier bangs into one or jabs a pylon with the ball, is he rewarded with six points? Seriously, why? We have yet to hear a convincing explanation.

Week 1 of the 2025 season brought us a tripleheader of logic-defying pylon pokes — plays where ball carriers, realizing their path to the end zone is blocked, intentionally run wide of the end zone and merely poke a spongy pylon — much easier than trying to fight past armored defenders.

The first headscratcher of the season was turned in by Kansas City’s Patrick Mahomes in Brazil. So unsatisfying to watch Hocus Bogus Rating: 5

PIT@NYJ: Pylon pokes, pt. 2

Pittsburgh’s Jonnu Smith pounds a pylon as he goes flying out of bounds, never contacting the end zone in the process. Just another nonsensical, visually unappealing no-touch touchdown. Rating: 5

TB@ATL: Pylon pokes, pt. 3

When you just can’t be inconvenienced with actually reaching the end zone, do what Tampa Bay’s Bucky Irving does. Just bang the ball into a pylon and collect six points the easy way.

Compare our trio of Week 1 pylon pokes with our complication reel of The Worst of 2024: Pylon Pokes. You’ll find it in our Film Room, along with The Worst of 2024: Pylon Fly-bys. Brace yourself for nonstop ugliness. Rating: 5

MIN@CHI: Sidestepper

We have seen worse airspace touchdowns, no question. Yet we would rule this corner-cutting run by Chicago’s Caleb Williams to be a no-score since his first step after crossing the goal line lands partially out of bounds. Anywhere else on the field he would be ruled OOB. It should be the same here. Rating: 2.5