re: ATL got 4 time outs.

quote:

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Your logic is just dumb because the penalty would have given the Saints an automatic first down

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The Saints had already gained a first down which resulted in a gain of greater than five yards, and thus declined the penalty. It would have been "dumb" to accept the penalty and thus lose yardage, since the clock would have apparently been stopped either way due to a defensive penalty.

The clock remaining stopped is a definite advantage to the defense in this situation, if this is really how the rule is supposed to work and wasn't just a mistake by the officiating crew.