Illegal forward pass

[carmstrong]

If a forward pass thrown from beyond line of scrimmage and the pass is intercepted, does the play stand, or is the penalty and loss of down enforced?

[Derock1986]

Originally posted by carmstrong
If a forward pass thrown from beyond line of scrimmage and the pass is intercepted, does the play stand, or is the penalty and loss of down enforced?

The defense will have the option to accept the penalty and loss of down or decline the penalty. If they decline (and I'm sure they will if they intercepted the ball) the play stands and the ball belongs to the defense.

[mikesears]

Originally posted by Derock1986

The defense will have the option to accept the penalty and loss of down or decline the penalty. If they decline (and I'm sure they will if they intercepted the ball) the play stands and the ball belongs to the defense.

Derock got this right. The ball is still live even after an illegal forward pass is caught but would be dead if it fell incomplete.