A major topic of conversation this summer was how the NFL’s new kickoff rule would affect scoring.

Now past the midway point of the regular season, it’s time to officially say that the impact has been sizable. The average game has produced just short of 47 points — a point more than last season and the NFL’s highest scoring environment since 2020.

A record 49.6 points per game were scored during the 2020 COVID season with factors like empty stadiums and no preseason/limited offseason practices often cited for the spike.

The biggest single reason for the latest jump is kickoffs, namely moving the touchback spot from last year’s 30-yard line in the first year of the new “dynamic” ruleset to the 35 this season.

That’s meant the return rate has skyrocketed — from 33% last year to 79% this

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