THE FIRST TWO kickoffs in the Eagles' 17-9 win over the Buccaneers on Thursday landed a few blades of grass shy of the goal line. On the first, Kenny Bell fumbled Caleb Sturgis' kick at the 16-yard line. On the second, Donteea Dye returned Cody Parkey's kick to the 25-yard line.
All that mattered to special teams coach Dave Fipp was getting Tampa Bay's returners out of the end zone.
In the offseason, the NFL changed the way it handles touchbacks on kickoffs. Instead of a touchback bringing the ball to the 20-yard line, the offense starts at its own 25-yard line, a 25 percent increase in field position.