Can a team that commits an intentional penalty to get the ball back?

[tmagan]

Consider this hypothetical NFL situation:

Team A has the ball at their own ten yard line with 2:35 left in the game up two points. Team B has no timeouts. The next play the running back is tackled in between the hash mark beyond the line to gain for a first down at their own fifteen yard line. Normally, Team A will let the clock run to the two minute warning and then take three knees to end the game. However knowing this right after the running back is tackled, a member of Team B hits the running back late for a fifteen yard unnecessary roughness penalty. It is fifteen yards, but in the NFL, the clock in that situation will not start until the next snap from scrimmage. Therefore Team A has to run a play before the two minute warning. If they do not get a first down after running two plays post the two minute warning, Team A would have to punt the ball away with 40 seconds left to Team B with a decent chance to get into field goal position to win the game.

[CT1]

Originally Posted by tmagan

It is fifteen yards, but in the NFL, the clock in that situation will not start until the next snap from scrimmage.

Are you sure about that ruling? I could understand if A were trailing in the game.

[APG]

Originally Posted by CT1

Are you sure about that ruling? I could understand if A were trailing in the game.

Since the penalty occurred inside of five minutes of the 2nd half, the clock would start on the snap.

Rule 4, Section 3, Article 2

(f) If the game clock is stopped after a down in which there was a foul by either team, following enforcement or declination of a penalty, the game clock will start as if the foul had not occurred, except that the clock will start on the snap if:

(1) the foul occurs after the two-minute warning of the first half,
(2) the foul occurs inside the last five minutes of the second half, or
(3) a specific rule prescribes otherwise

As for the proposed question, I thought I've read a ruling that says the clock would start on the ready but I can't find it.

[Robert Goodman]

NFL has a provision, 4-3-10, to prevent such action by the defense to conserve time, but it applies only in the final minute of a half.

However, in the case referred to above, is that "a down in which there was a foul by either team", or is it a foul between downs?