The NFL’s preseason kicked off - literally - with a brand new play on Thursday evening, when the ‘Dynamic Kickoff’ was debuted during the Chicago Bears versus Houston Texans Hall of Fame Game.
The league changed the kickoff rule this offseason to both improve player safety and also add some excitement back to a play that saw a record-low returns last season.
The play sees all players but the kicker and two returners lined up in a ten-yard zone and was in play for the first time in Canton, Ohio, with the two teams combining for a total of eight kickoffs.
The longest return was to the 31-yard line, with the average starting position of all eight kicks being at the 25.6-yard line, with the rule change failing to bring about any exciting plays in its first outing.
Bears legend Devin Hester, who is being inducted into the Hall of Fame on Saturday, was present and he admitted he thought there would be more explosive returns.
"I'm watching it, man, and I'm surprised that we're not seeing more big runs," he told Awful Announcing during the game.
"You know, that's shocking. But hey, it's the first game. So I figure a lot of coaches are going to evaluate this game and try to figure out what they can do to get some more big plays. But right now -- it's kinda shaky right now. But who knows? The first game. We'll see."
The game came to an end with 3:31 left in the third quarter after being cut short due to inclement weather, with the Bears declared as the winners, as they were 21-17 up when thunderstorms rolled in.
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