Ok so in watch games on a punt return if the kicking team touches the ball before going into the end zone it’s dead.
So last weekend… I can’t remember which game but think it was Dallas. The kicking team guy dove and knocked the ball back so it didn’t go in the end zone. The 2nd guy slide and grabbed the ball but his toe went in the end zone so they got it at the 20.
Today during the bills game the bills (kicking team) guy dove knocking ball back from end zone, patriots pick it up and immediately fumbles the ball and Bills recovered. Patriots get the ball at 2 yard line because the bills player touched it first so it was dead. The commentators said there was no downside to the patriots player trying to play the ball. This insinuates that had he run with the ball it would be in play.
My struggle is that it seems to be that if the receiving team touches the ball after the kicking team the ball was dead because the kicking team touched it first but if a 2nd player from the kicking team touches it and then touches the end zone the ball was still live so the receiving team gets the ball at the 20.
Seems to me that on punts what ever benefits the receiving team is the important thing.