Patriots' video tactic for field goals was, and still is, legal

Former NFL analytics coach Ryan Paganetti recently highlighted an advantage the Patriots have gained in field-goal attempts through an optical illusion on the video board. According to Ben Volin of the Boston Globe, the NFL confirmed that this tactic is entirely legal. The NFL's policy states that video and ribbon boards must display either a static image or an All-22 view during field goal attempts and extra-point attempts.

Any flashing, moving, or blinking text or images displayed during these events are considered a violation.

Former Patriots rules and strategy expert Ernie Adams finds humor in the notion that it was a stroke of genius, stating that the Patriots had already infiltrated the minds of opponents. However, the truth is that the idea was born from a simple inconvenience. Former Patriots kicker Stephen Gostkowski disliked seeing his own image on the video board before attempting a kick.

This led to the realization that the All-22 image could provide an advantage, showing four goalposts to the opposing kicker and leaving the Patriots' video board blank. This advantage worked out perfectly, as the video boards are within the kickers' line of sight. It is something that teams designing new stadiums might want to consider incorporating, unless and until the rule changes.