First, don't take my words as truth. I'm no NFL refree! ;)
Anyhow, kicking is a sector where NFL rules change every so often....
In this case, there may not have been a tee and the ball was placed in a hole on the ground, like rugby used to do. Or, using a hump of sand (current rugby setup). Whatever.
I believe NFL prefers the punt because it allows for a better coverage due to a longer hang time. Pro teams are scared of big returns. So if the kick off cannot result in a touchback (because the KO is not on the 35y line due to a penalty) they will try their hardest to make a non returnable kick. A punt makes a fair catch so much more likely