The Cutler Knockout, and Penalties That Aren't Equal One rule that many football fans can appreciate (especially when their team benefits) is when a personal foul is called on the defense and it takes priority, even if a minor 5-yard penalty is called on the offense on the same play. When the rule is applied, there is a 15-yard walkoff against the defense and it also results in an automatic first down. The rule takes into account that the personal foul is the more serious infraction. One of the biggest plays in the Bears-Texans game on Sunday night football also appeared to involve this rule. The play occurred late in the first half with the Bears on offense near midfield, trailing, 10-3. On a third-and 8, a personal foul was called on Texans linebacker Tim Dobbins for a hit to the head of quarterback Jay Cutler, who had just released a pass to receiver Devin Hester. Hester dashed all the way to the Houston 10, and Cutler was shaken up and later found to have a concussion. The Bears should have been in business, right? After sorting out the flags thrown, the referee Gene Steratore cited Cutler for an illegal forward pass for being beyond the line of scrimmage when he released the ball. The pass was so close to being legal that Chicago Coach Lovie Smith challenged the ruling on the field. Steratore denied the challenge even though it looked upon further review that Cutler's right foot appeared to be at the line of scrimmage. The end result? Offsetting penalties and a replay of third down. An illegal forward pass is not deemed a simple 5-yard penalty because it also involves a loss of down. The "5 yard vs. 15 yard" exception, which allows for the personal foul to be enforced, didn't apply. The inequity in the result was that it didn't seem to take into account the seriousness of the infraction against the Texans' Dobbins. Cutler threw an interception three plays later and didn't return to the field for the second half. Cutler will probably miss at least one game. As for Dobbins, there seems to be little doubt he will be fined for the high and late hit in which he also led with his helmet. Amazingly, he claimed it was Cutler who ran into him. Yet according to N.F.L. rules, the infractions on the play - the personal foul vs. the illegal forward pass - were deemed equal enough to be ruled offsetting. The referee had no judgment on the matter. Imagine if the following scene had unfolded: a concussed Cutler laid out on the field after a clearly illegal hit to the head, being attended to by Bears personnel, while Steratore explained that the penalties were offsetting and that third down would be replayed. If the N.F.L. cares about player safety the way it says it does, maybe it needs rules that back that up in every instance, taking away the incentive for cheap-shot hits. It would seem to make sense for the referee to have the jurisdiction to make a more balanced decision in real time, especially if replay can confirm its accuracy. Extra Point Should the N.F.L. consider using replay to confirm personal fouls for illegal hits to the head? Follow George on Twitter @fifthdownnyc