The St. Louis BattleHawks pulled off an improbable comeback to beat the San Antonio Brahmas in their first game of the 2023 XFL season.
St. Louis can thank the XFL’s onside kick rules for making that rally just a bit easier.
The XFL allows its clubs to attempt a fourth-and-15 play from their own 25-yard line in lieu of an onside kick. The success percentage of an onside kick is roughly similar to that of a fourth-and-15 conversion attempt, but the theory is that the extra offensive play would provide extra excitement to the fans in the fourth quarter — the only time this kicking alternative is available.
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That certainly proved true in the BattleHawks vs. Brahmas game. St. Louis attempted the fourth-and-15 conversion with 1:17 left in the fourth quarter, trailing 15-12. The BattleHawks had just two timeouts left, so keeping possession of the ball would make it significantly easier for them to mount a game-tying or game-winning drive.
The BattleHawks were able to convert. Quarterback A.J. McCarron kept the play alive amid pressure in the pocket before finding Austin Proehl just beyond the sticks for the first down.
In the XFL: Instead of an onside kick, the trailing team can maintain possession with a 4th-and-15 play from its own 25-yard line.
It just worked for the St. Louis BattleHawks.
This was brought to NFL owners in the past but didn’t get enough votes.pic.twitter.com/qNP5QukWMy
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) February 19, 2023
From there, St. Louis would march down the field before McCarron connected with Proehl on a 14-yard touchdown with 16 seconds left. That proved to be the difference in the contest.
MORE: What happened to A.J. McCarron? How long-time NFL backup ended up in XFL
Thanks to the comeback, the XFL’s onside kick alternative proved popular among football fans. Many credited it with making what had previously been a dull game that lacked offensive firepower into a tense, grinding finish.
Some even called for the NFL to adopt this rule, which had previously been discussed and voted down by the league’s owners over the years.
In the last 2 minutes, The XFL just proved all their rules are better. Down 15-3, St Louis scored, went for THREE and then converted a 4th and 15 “onside kick” to keep the ball and then scored again to win 18-15. Amazing. https://t.co/5BYIfY9nUQ
— David Bearman ESPN (@DBearmanESPN) February 19, 2023
absolutely love the XFL onside kick
BUT imagine giving Patrick Mahomes the chance to only have to pick up 15 yards after every drive 😬 pic.twitter.com/D8wcJEjI8R— Jackson Didlake (@diidlake) February 19, 2023
The NFL needs to adopt the XFL’s 4th & 15 onside kick rule tomorrow.
— Brandon Kiley (@BKSportsTalk) February 19, 2023
Loving this scoring system in XFL. 3 pt conversion makes it a 3 point game. 9 point play for St. Louis.
Now they are doing the 4th and 15 over an onside kick. #XFL
— Cody Roark (@CodyRoarkNFL) February 19, 2023
I think I love the XFL’s 4th-and-15 onside kick rule. I think.
— Bruce Feldman (@BruceFeldmanCFB) February 19, 2023
The 4th and 15 conversion instead of an onside kick in the XFL is awesome.
— Drew Garrison (@DrewGarrison) February 19, 2023
Sounds like the XFL is starting to convince people 4th-and-15 is more fun than an onside kick attempt.
Excellent. One step closer to banning special teams.
— Jeremy Reisman (@DetroitOnLion) February 19, 2023
It’s gonna take the #XFL for the #NFL to adapt the 4th-and-15 alternative to the onside kick.
— Jeff Kerr (@JeffKerrCBS) February 19, 2023
The XFL’s fourth-and-15 replacement for the onside kick remains the best path forward for football, but the NFL continues to drag its feet and make its audience watch a lesser play.
— Jason B. Hirschhorn (@by_JBH) February 19, 2023
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Certainly, the onside kick alternative looks like a win for the XFL. It will help to keep games within striking distance, especially when coupled with the 3-point conversion attempts that the league allows after touchdowns.
The XFL wants games to be close and come down to the wire. It appears that they have a structure in place to ensure that will happen more often than not.