NFL
A place for NFL news, game highlights and everything that excites you about American Football.
Usually everyone is looking at the ball and they run into each other because there are 6 or 8 people going for the same ball, whether to knock it down or to catch it. Some actions that are normally called pass interference may be overlooked if the defender is attempting to catch or bat the ball rather than focusing on the receiver.
I assume part of it being the design of the play is more of a jump play into a mass rather than a route and a defined coverage. And the fact that in theory it could usually be ruled uncatchable by most involved players, and also it may have something to do with the defenders all generally facing back towards the qb as well so they’re “making a play on the ball” which gives the defensive back the same rights as receivers to the path to the ball. While they could usually call playing through the back of the player, I think that can be negated by facing back often. You only get a clear path if they’re playing you not the ball. If they’re after the ball and knock you out of the way that’s a good play.
For example if the guy doesn’t turn to identify the ball and knocks you down while looking at you, pass interference. If that same guy turns and looks at the ball as he runs you over, no flag as he was trying to get the ball. Same end result of wiping out the receiver, but by looking for a ball they get the right to run that path, where if they face the receiver they will get flagged for taking that path over.