The National Football League has some flaws, but this past weekend proves why it is the most popular sport in the United States and it is not even close. While two of the best quarterbacks to ever have played the game, Tom Brady and Aaron Rodgers both lost and this will be the first time since 2009 neither of them will be in a conference championship game, everyone is buzzing about Joe Burrow, Patrick Mahomes and Josh Allen being the next superstars under center for the next decade or so. The future is bright for the next generation of household names in the league.
There is a lot of talk about the overtime rules, and the Buffalo Bills not getting a possession in overtime, and I have no problem with changes to the rules so both teams have a chance with the ball, but this system is a lot better than the old rule of “sudden death” where just a field goal could beat you and your team never had a shot on offense. This rule changed for the better after the 2009-10 NFC championship game with the Saints and Vikings where Ben Leber was called for an “iffy” pass interference call to set New Orleans up with an easy field goal to send the organization to their first Super Bowl, which they eventually won by defeating Indianapolis. This rule change made things better, maybe if the league decides to go with more of the college football formula fans would like it more. In high school both teams get a shot from the 10, in college it is the 25, maybe the NFL could do it from the 50.
I could go with it either way, to be honest I don’t think it is the worst thing in the world if you lose because your defense can’t hold the offense to a field goal. I know fans feel bad for the Bills, but twice, including 13 seconds left in the game, could have put themselves into the AFC Championship Game. That is a long way of saying I am fine with this rule, but if they change it, I won’t be upset.
The bottom line is the NFL can do no wrong. They are the King Midas of sports leagues right now. Everything they touch turns to gold. After a few years of grumbling of players taking knees during the national anthem and other political things that entered into the league that upset fans with many of them saying they are going to boycott the league; the TV ratings have never been bigger and the playoff games are the water cooler talk every Monday morning around the country. The younger and older stars are recognizable and even if your team isn’t in the playoffs you most likely are watching the games. The same can’t be said in the other sports leagues. A majority of fans of the Twins, Wild, and Timberwolves aren’t glued to the television or radio in the equivalent of a divisional round in the other leagues. They may watch the World Series, Stanley Cup or NBA Finals, but the earlier rounds aren’t the “talk of the town” like the NFL early rounds of the playoffs are.
The league is set up well, because aging stars like Rodgers, Brady and Ben Roethlisberger might be on their way out, but Burrow, Mahomes, Allen, and many others, and not just quarterbacks; have star-power that no other league has. They are on top of the mountain and will be there for a while.
Comments