NFL's new kickoff rules get mixed reviews at Hall of Fame Game - ESPN

CANTON, Ohio — The first two kickoff returns under the NFL's new rules looked a lot like kickoffs of the past during the Chicago Bears' 21-17 weather-shortened win over the Houston Texans in Thursday's Hall of Fame Game.

Texans wide receiver Steven Sims took the opening kickoff 21 yards before he was tackled at the 26-yard line, which is 1 yard beyond where offenses begin their drives after a touchback.

After Houston took a 7-0 lead, Texans kicker Ka'imi Fairbairn sent a kickoff to Bears wide receiver Tyler Scott, who generated an identical 21-yard return.

«You grew up your whole life just catching it, having different levels and things of that nature, and now everyone is kind of stacked,» Scott said. «If a kick is kind of short, guys are right up on you. You've got to make one cut and go. I think there's benefits to that, because if one guy misses, then you're good, but at the same time if you make the wrong cut, somebody is right there.

»So far, I feel like it kind of protects guys a little bit more. Guys aren't getting a full head of steam coming down the field, taking shots on people. But I think for the most part it'll work out pretty good. Just think we'll have a lot of explosive plays."

The NFL overhauled its old kickoff rules this offseason in hopes of promoting more returns. Of the eight kickoffs that took place Thursday, only one resulted in a touchback. That happened 73% of the time last season, which was the highest rate since 1970.

«You have to figure it out, like, 'hey, what is it gonna look like?'» Bears coach Matt Eberflus said. «So certainly, we've tried different things on the return team and different ways to attack on the cover team and putting different bodies in different spots, so we're really just