The NFL Regular Season concluded Sunday night and a snapper was involved in a controversial ending to a key game. The Chiefs were attempting a last second field goal against the Chargers that would have eliminated the Chargers from the playoffs. The field goal was missed and the Chargers eventually won in overtime. The NFL later admitted that an NFL rule was violated on the attempt, since the Chargers lined up seven men on one side of the snapper, Thomas Gafford, and not the six players that the rules now permit.
Heading into the final week of the season, kickers and punters continued to have outstanding seasons. Mark Gaughan of The Buffalo News called this the “golden era” of kicking and punting given the success rates of kickers at field goals, particularly those over 50 yards, and the strong net punting averages that punters have compiled. In addition to kickers and punters receiving better training, as well as being bigger and stronger athletes, Panthers assistant special teams coach Bruce DeHaven also credited the fact that the play of long snappers is better than in the past.
Zak DeOssie of the Giants finished tied at the top of the tackles list for snappers. On Sunday, DeOssie recorded two tackles, one of which was a solo tackle, to finish the season with a total of nine, seven of which were solo stops. DeOssie tied with Garrison Sanborn of the Bills, who ended with four solo and five assisted tackles. DeOssie was also the tackle leader in 2011 and 2012. Clint Gresham of the Seahawks added two solo tackles this week.
The NFL Long Snappers Chart for the 2013 NFL Regular Season is below.
