Responsibility for forcing the ball from the field of play across a goal line is attributed to the player who carries, snaps, passes, fumbles or kicks the ball, unless a new force is applied to a grounded backward pass, kick or fumble.

a. The muffing or batting of a pass, kick or fumble in flight is not considered a new force; and
b. The accidental touching of a loose ball by a player who was blocked into the ball is ignored and does not constitute a new force.