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I know some of you may be a bit nervous about this title in this day and age, but I mean nothing out of place. The phrase “kissing your sister’ is how many in the sports world have described a tie game in sports. It’s not all that bad, but it also is not all that good. I mean – it’s your sister. I hope mine is not offended.
I bring this up because in just two weeks of NFL football, there have already been two ties: Pittsburgh–Cleveland (21-21) and Minnesota–Green Bay (29-29). I also bring this up because of the four major professional sports leagues (NFL, NBA, NHL, and MLB), the NFL is the only one that finishes a regular season game without deciding a winner. And I don’t like it!
According to Wikipedia, tie games in professional football were common prior to 1974 because there was no overtime provision. The sudden death overtime period was instituted in 1974 and allowed a 15-minute period where sudden death was the rule. If one team scored, the game was over.
I hated this rule, also. There was a huge advantage to any team that won the toss to start the overtime period. Score a point – win the game. The opponent did not even get an offensive possession. Sure, they could defend against the score, but since 50+-yard field goals are not that uncommon today, the offense did not have to do much to garner a win – maybe just win the coin toss.
That stupidity continued until 2012 when the rule changed to the current situation, but it did not completely change for the better. Now if a team scores a touchdown, they win, but if they only get a field goal, the other team gets a possession to see if they can score. This is still not fair.
Seven ties have occurred since 2012 and two of those in the first two weeks of the 2018 season. Conversely, there are no ties in college football or in Pennsylvania high school football.
In college the ball is placed on the 25-yard line and teams get equal possessions until a winner is decided. That seems very fair.
In high school, the ball is placed on the 10-yard line and each team gets an equal number of possessions. Equally fair.
So, can we learn something from these two non-professional levels of football? We can. Instead of a timed overtime period which could decide nothing and take a long time (I know the NFL wants to get to the other games and the networks want to get to their regularly scheduled programs), let’s do what the others do. Since the pros are more skilled, have the ball placed on the 40-yard line of the team with possession and allow equal possessions until we have a winner. A team always starts a possession from the other team’s 40-yard line. There will eventually be a winner.
And isn’t that why they play the game?
ABOVE THE EARS (SOME MUSINGS)
- I’m sure Eagle fans are not thrilled with Tampa Bay QB Ryan Fitzpatrick after he riddled their defense this past Sunday. For me, I have an affinity to him. I was fortunate to broadcast two of his college games when he played at Harvard in 2003 and 2004. Both were wins for the Crimson. In 2004, Harvard did not lose a game. He threw for over 5000 yards in his career and ran for almost 1500 yards. The most interesting story prior to being drafted suggested that he, based on the NFL’s intelligence test, was the smartest player ever to play QB in the NFL. He scored a 48 or 49 (out of 50) on the Wonderlic test in the fastest time ever (nine minutes). Maybe Eagle fans shouldn’t feel too bad if he outsmarted the defense.
- Did you know that since the current NFL playoff system was put in place, 88% of teams that start 0-2 miss the playoffs? Buffalo, Oakland, Houston, St. Louis, Detroit, Seattle and the Giants are all 0-2.
- Carson Wentz will be back this week against the Indianapolis Colts so Eagles’ fans should not be apologetic for long after losing to Tampa Bay.
- A couple of nice stories came out of the Patriot League this past week. Colgate was to play football at Furman which is in Greenville, SC, this past Saturday. Due to Hurricane Florence, the game was cancelled. Colgate donated their hotel rooms, their pre-game and post-game meals to the relief effort for those in need. Former Lafayette field hockey coach Andrew Griffiths brought his Old Dominion team up from Norfolk, Virginia, to Lafayette to play Providence instead of cancelling the game due to the hurricane.
- RCN-TV will present three good high school match-ups this Friday night. Live at 7:00pm, Mike Joseph, Tony Cocca and I will call the undefeated Easton versus the undefeated Emmaus game. Chris Michael and John Leone will have the Liberty at Parkland game at 9:30pm. Saturday, Chris and John Breidinger bring you the Nazareth at Bethlehem Catholic game at 7:00pm. As always, you’re invited join us.
Gary’s Guesses: NFL Picks (Last week: 9-6-1) (Overall: 18-12-2 60% )
Week THREE
PHILADELPHIA
TAMPA BAY
