NFL Clock Status

[Suudy]

Watching the SB, I noted that the WH wound the clock on the sack of Brady in the last minutes of the game. Yet in other cases, we see the WH stop the clock on a sack.

What are the timing rules regarding stopping/winding the clock for sacks? Is there something special about the last minutes of the game?

[JRutledge]

I do not know all the specifics of the timing rules, but I do know that there are a stopped clock on a QB sack normally. Then the clock is started on the ready. And I believe some clock status changes inside 4 minutes and inside of 2 minutes on when the clock would start on a incomplete pass for example.

Peace

[MNBlue]

From the NFL Rulebook:

Section 4 Stopping the Game Clock
The game clock operator shall stop the game clock (timeout) upon a signal by any official or upon the
operator’s own positive knowledge:
(a) at the end of a down in which there is a free kick or fair-catch kick;
(b) when the kicking team recovers a scrimmage kick that has been touched by the receiving team
beyond the line of scrimmage;
(c) when the ball is out of bounds;
(d) when the ball is dead on or behind a goal line;
(e) at the end of a down during which a foul occurs;
(f) when a forward pass is incomplete;
(g) when the player who originally takes the snap is tackled behind the line of scrimmage;
Exception:��After the two-minute warning of a half, the game clock shall not be stopped.
A.R. 4.6�� �� Quarterback A1 drops back to pass and is tackled behind the line.
Ruling:��Stop the game clock until the ball can be respotted at succeeding spot. (40-second play clock starts
when timeout signal is given).
(h) at the time of a foul for which the ball remains dead or is dead immediately;
(i) when the Referee signals the two-minute warning for a half;
(j) when a down is completed during which or after there is a change of possession; or
(k) when any official signals a timeout for any other reason.

[APG]

Originally Posted by Suudy

Watching the SB, I noted that the WH wound the clock on the sack of Brady in the last minutes of the game. Yet in other cases, we see the WH stop the clock on a sack.

What are the timing rules regarding stopping/winding the clock for sacks? Is there something special about the last minutes of the game?

Anytime the player who originally takes the snap is tackled behind the line of scrimmage, the ball is stopped until the ball is spotted. When the two-minute warning has been reached though, the clock is wound rather than stopped.

[JugglingReferee]

What I like about NFL signal is that there is usually (and likely always) a positive signal.

A positive signal means a signal exists even if nothing changes in the game. In this example, the clock status doesn't change.

A positive signal is good because it forces the officials to communicate better and it prevents the case of an official forgetting to do a signal and unintendedly communicating incorrectly.