NFL won't look at challenge flag rule during regular season

The NFL will look at a rule that penalizes teams for throwing an illegal challenge flag in a few weeks at a competition committee meeting. (Leon Halip/Getty Images)

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell says he doesn't expect the league to change a rule that penalizes teams for throwing an illegal challenge flag during the regular season but the rule will be looked at in a few weeks at the league's competition committee meeting,reports the Detroit Free Press.

Detroit Lions head coach Jim Schwartz threw a challenge flag after an 81-yard touchdown run by running back Justin Forsett in the Lions' 34-31 overtime Thanksgiving Day loss to the Houston Texans. When Schwartz threw the flag, it wiped out an automatic booth review of the play. Replays showed Forsett was down by contact after a short gain, but kept running when he heard no whistles.

“I don’t expect it before the end of the regular season,” Goodell said. “We may evaluate it as it relates to the postseason. But it certainly will get consideration by the competition committee in the off-season."

“Yeah, I know that rule,” Schwartz said after the game. “You can’t challenge a turnover or a scoring play and I overreacted. I was so mad that they didn’t call him down cause he was obviously down on the field. I had the flag out of my pocket before he even scored the touchdown. That’s all my fault. I overreacted in that situation and I cost us a touchdown.”

All scoring plays and turnovers are subject to booth reviews. Teams are penalized 15 yards and no automatic review is granted after an illegal challenge.