Overview

• Rule tweaks this season moved touchbacks to the 35 and limited receiving-team alignment in the setup zone, incentivizing in-play kicks.
• Carolina’s opponents are starting near the 21-yard line and the Rams are at 21.6, with knuckleball “dirty” kicks driving league-best coverage results.
• Patriots coach Mike Vrabel said he spent hours studying the Panthers’ kickoff tape before Sunday, describing their placements as “dirty” and disruptive.
• The tactic carries a steep penalty for a miss: a kick landing short of the 20 spots the ball at the 40, as seen when Arizona’s Chad Ryland set up Seattle’s 23-20 winner.
• Kickers and coaches say these balls are tough to aim and rely on some luck, even as return rates have surged to about 77% with teams testing the approach.