In the 2023 XFL, there is an alternative to the oft-ridiculed onside kick. If you want to get the ball back after scoring, you are given the ball in a 4 and 15 situation. If you convert that, you retain possession. However, this option is also only available in the fourth quarter.
The rule is a breath of fresh air, as it gives football teams the opportunity to avoid the rarely successful onside kick. The league has apparently hit a home run with this rule change, leading to widespread demands for the NFL to implement it as well and adhere to it in the future.
Can XFL rules 4 and 15 work in the NFL?
Yes, the XFL’s 4 and 15 rule may work in the NFL, but the question is, would the elite National Football League want to borrow a cool new idea from the underclass, the XFL?
That’s the stick right now, as the NFL is notorious for ignoring potential rule changes until the rest of the football world catches up. So what’s to say they won’t sleep with this cool new league idea?
It’s worth noting that during the 2022-23 NFL season, there were 56 onside kick attempts. However, only three (5.3 percent) were successful, down from 16.1 percent the previous season. If this doesn’t indicate a change is worth exploring, then what is?
The league conversion play comes with more excitement and brings more action to the game instead of the rarely successful onside kick, which usually seems destined to fail in the NFL.
Was Week 1 of the XFL 2023 Season Worth the Hype?
Yes, Week 1 of the 2023 season paid off, and then some, as the DC Defenders vs. Seattle Sea Dragons matchup was a particularly interesting game worth looking into.
The DC Defenders just got the better of the Seattle Sea Dragons in a close matchup. The Defenders began their 2023 campaign with a hard-fought win over the Seattle Sea Dragons and blew out the more favored Dragons in the process, even though they had an offense that would make NFL scouting teams blush.
The Defenders were lucky throughout the game as Ben DiNucci was unable to get going. The Sea Dragons must have sucked to let an 8-for-19 passing QB in Jordan Ta’amu yell at them in week one. You can expect better performances from Ta’amu and DiNucci going forward, as they are two of the best quarterbacks in the league.