Questions about Scoring on Odd Plays

Q: My defense recovered a fumble and fumbled it again when returning it.  However, another defensive player still picked the ball up and scored.  Why didn't my defense get credit for a TD?

Q: On Sunday, the Bears punted to the Vikings. The Vikings punt returner decided to let it go in hopes of it bouncing into the end zone and blocked the defender. The ball hit him though and the defender recovered in the end zone. Why was this scored a Defensive TD for the Bears?

Q: On Sunday, my WR caught a pass and had the end zone in sight when he fumbled into the end zone. Another WR fell on the ball and scored. On another site, no TD is awarded. MFS awarded the recovering WR a rushing TD. Why?

Q: My league is set up to award points to position players who score a return TD as well as Special Teams. One week, my WR returned a punt for a 70-yard TD. I received points for the TD and the ST received the same points. A few weeks later, my backup RB picked up a blocked punt and returned it for a TD. The ST received points but my RB did not. Why?

Q: This week, QB Drew Brees threw an INT, but WR Robert Meachem stripped the ball from the DB and took it in for a TD. Oddly, the New Orleans defense was given credit for a TD, but not Meachem. What gives?
 

Q: My defense recovered a fumble and fumbled it again when returning it.  However, another defensive player still picked the ball up and scored.  Why didn't my defense get credit for a TD?
A: Believe it or not, the NFL does not consider this type of score to be a defensive TD.  When the defensive recovers a fumble, they technically become the offense.  So, when the DE fumbled the ball and the LB returned it, it was no longer a defensive TD.  We cannot do anything about it.  Our stats provider reports that score as an “Offensive Fumble Return TD”.

Q: On Sunday, the Bears punted to the Vikings. The Vikings punt returner decided to let it go in hopes of it bouncing into the end zone and blocked the defender. The ball hit him though and the defender recovered in the end zone. Why was this scored a Defensive TD for the Bears?
A: We use the Score Type reported to us by Stats, Inc. This type of score is considered a defensive score. The Vikings were considered to have their Special Teams on the field. The Bears unit before the kick is considered to be on Offense, but, as soon as the ball is kicked, is considered to be on Defense.

Q: On Sunday, my WR caught a pass and had the end zone in sight when he fumbled into the end zone. Another WR fell on the ball and scored. On another site, no TD is awarded. MFS awarded the recovering WR a rushing TD. Why?
A: This type of TD is given to us as an Offensive Fumble Return TD. Since an eligible player scored a TD, we want our site members to receive credit. We credit as a rushing TD since the QB is not awarded a passing TD.

Q: My league is set up to award points to position players who score a return TD as well as Special Teams. One week, my WR returned a punt for a 70-yard TD. I received points for the TD and the ST received the same points. A few weeks later, my backup RB picked up a blocked punt and returned it for a TD. The ST received points but my RB did not. Why?
A: Special Teams receive points for Blocks and Return TDs. Unfortunately, the play falls in the middle. It is classified as a Blocked Punt Return TD. Since the Special Teams unit was on the field and we give them the points for the Blocked Punt, it makes sense to give them the TD. We only award the player the TD when we receive notification of a Kickoff or Punt Return TD.

Q: This week, QB Drew Brees threw an INT, but WR Robert Meachem stripped the ball from the DB and took it in for a TD. Oddly, the New Orleans defense was given credit for a TD, but not Meachem. What gives?
A: Right or wrong, according to the NFL rulebook, once an interception is thrown, the offense (the Saints in this case) is now considered the defense. When Meachem stripped the ball, the defense is credited with a fumble and the defense is the one who scored the touchdown. This is how it gets reported to us so we abide by that scoring rule, even if it costs us in our own personal leagues.