Quarterback kneel

File:DetroitLionsvsGreenBayPackers-2007-FavreKneel.jpg

The Green Bay Packers (right) in the kneel formation in a game against the Detroit Lions in 2007

In American football, a quarterback kneel, also called taking a knee, genuflect offense, or victory formation occurs when the quarterback immediately kneels to the ground after receiving the snap. It is primarily used to run the clock down, either at the end of the first half or the game itself, in order to preserve a lead or a win. Although it generally results in a loss of a yard and uses up a down, it minimizes the risk of a fumble, which would give the other team a chance to score.

Especially when the outcome of the game has been well decided, defenses will often give little resistance to the play as a matter of sportsmanship as well as to reduce injury risk on what is a relatively simple play. The quarterback is generally not touched and the act of intentionally taking the knee results in the play being over in all variations of the sport.

The formation offers maximum protection against a fumble; should the center-quarterback exchange result in a fumble, a running back is lined up on either side of the quarterback, both to recover any fumble and protect the vulnerable kneeling player from being injured by defensive players who get through the line. Also, a player is lined up directly behind the quarterback, often much farther than a typical tailback would line up. This player's responsibility is to tackle any defensive player who may recover a fumble and attempt to advance it. Because of this essentially "defensive" responsibility, the tailback in this formation may actually be a free safety or other defensive player who is adept at making tackles in the open field.

Even though the play itself takes very little time, the rules of American Football dictate that the game clock will continue to run until the next play (as with any play where the ball carrier is tackled in bounds). With the 40 second play clock in the NFL and NCAA, a team can run off over two minutes with three consecutive kneel downs.

The play is often known as Victory Formation as it is most often run by a winning team late in the game in order to preserve a victory. In the case of a close game, the winning team would be trying to avoid a turnover which might be the result of a more complex play; or in the case of a more lopsided contest, the play can be run as a matter of sportsmanship and to avoid further injury.

Strategy

The quarterback kneel may also be used at the end of the first half by a team which feels they have little chance of scoring before halftime due to poor field position. Similarly, the play could also be run at the end of the second half of a tie game if a team is content with sending the game into overtime. The play could perhaps also be ran at the end of the game by a losing team which is hopelessly behind and wishes to avoid further injury, but is unwilling to cut the game short as a forfeit.

In rare instances, a team will use the quarterback kneel to avoid running up the score in a lopsided contest, even though there may be significant time remaining on the clock.

This occurred in the 2011 edition of the Magnolia Bowl between LSU and Ole Miss. With five minutes remaining and LSU leading 52-3, Tigers coach Les Miles ordered third-string quarterback Zack Mettenberger to take a knee on first and goal from the Ole Miss 1-yard line, and to kneel on the next three plays. Miles felt another touchdown would further embarrass Ole Miss coach Houston Nutt, who announced his resignation, effective at the end of the season, 12 days before the Rebels hosted No. 1 LSU. The Tigers had already secured the largest margin of victory in series history.

In Canadian football or Arena Football, which use slightly different rules, taking a knee with time left is not necessarily a viable strategy. In the CFL, a quarter must end with a play, and in Arena Football, teams must gain yardage in the final minute to keep the clock running.

Defense

Although in most instances a losing team will concede defeat when the other team is in the victory formation and taking the quarterback kneel, there are instances where the trailing team will try to make a defensive play in an attempt to regain possession of the ball, particularly when the losing team is behind by a touchdown or less and there is enough time to make more than one play. It is considered a breach of the game's etiquette and often condemned when it happens.

File:Post-Pisarcik QB kneel formation.svg

Formation adopted for the quarterback kneel play after the Miracle at the Meadowlands

This had happened on the play preceding The Miracle at the Meadowlands, the 1978 play that popularized the use of the kneeldown. The New York Giants had regained possession in the game's final minutes, needing only to run out the clock with two snaps for a 17–12 win. Their opponents, the Philadelphia Eagles, had no timeouts remaining. On second down, Giants' quarterback Joe Pisarcik was hit by some Eagles as he kneeled. As a result, offensive coordinator Ken Gibson called for a handoff up the middle to Larry Csonka. Miscommunications in the huddle resulted in a Pisarcik fumble that was recovered and returned for the winning touchdown by Eagles' defensive back Herman Edwards, and much embarrassment for the Giants.

As a result many teams began using the victory formation thereafter when kneeling. Defenses generally respected the rules and did not attempt to disrupt the kneeldown as the Eagles had. One prominent exception occurred to another Giants quarterback in 2012. An interception of a Tampa Bay Buccaneers pass with 30 seconds left had apparently secured a 25-point fourth-quarter comeback and 41–34 Giant victory. Eli Manning was knocked back by his own lineman as he took the snap, and fell down. Giants coach Tom Coughlin angrily confronted his Tampa Bay counterpart, Greg Schiano, at midfield once the game was over.

Rules

The 2011 NFL Rules state in Rule 7, Section 2, Article 1(c): "An official shall declare the ball dead and the down ended … when a quarterback immediately drops to his knee (or simulates dropping to his knee) behind the line of scrimmage".

The 2011 and 2012 NCAA Rules state in Rule 4, Section 1, Article 3(o): "A live ball becomes dead and an official shall sound his whistle or declare it dead … When a ball carrier simulates placing his knee on the ground." The same rule is used by the British American Football Association.

The 2011 CFL Rules state in Rule 1, Section 4: "The ball is dead … When the quarterback, in possession of the ball, intentionally kneels on the ground during the last three minutes of a half". The Statistical Scoring Rules, Section 5(e) states: "When a quarterback voluntarily drops to one knee and concedes yards in an effort to run out the clock, the yards lost will be charged under Team Losses. NOTE – No quarterback sack will be given in this situation."