I get The Athletic’s daily sports news email called The Pulse. Today’s issue posed an intriguing question regarding the rule that if the ball is fumbled before crossing the goal line and goes out of bounds in the end zone, it’s a touchback and the ball is turned over to the team on defense.

History won’t remember it well, but two days later, it’s still fresh for us: the gasp-inducing image of Chiefs wideout Mecole Hardman fumbling through the end zone late in Sunday’s playoff win over the Bills. 

The moment was tense. Kansas City had a chance to put the game away, up three points with 12 minutes left to play. Maybe not over over, but a touchdown would’ve zapped hope. It was a big moment. 

But the play — which actually didn’t end up keeping KC from winning — still reverberates this week, focused on a single rule: Why is fumbling through the end zone a turnover? There are two schools of thought here: 

1. The rule is perfect as-is. The red zone is the most important part of the field. Maybe don’t fumble there, folks. The added tension is good, and considering how many rules benefit offense over defense, it’s good to have at least one that works the other way.

3. The rule is stupid. Why are we punishing teams for making it far down the field? And let’s be clear: the opposing team does not recover this fumble — it simply rolls out of the end zone. Anywhere else on the field, it’s still the offense’s ball. Change the rule. 

The blurb ended with a survey question. If you’d like your vote to be logged formally, you should be able to vote here.

Otherwise, what are your thoughts regarding this rule: should it be changed or remain as-is?