The NFL is one of the most popular sports leagues in the world and has been around for nearly a century. While a lot of the rules have changed since then, one thing that hasn’t changed is the way ties are handled. I was recently asked by a friend, “what do you know about ties in the NFL?” and I was happy to provide some insight.
First off, a tie in the NFL is exactly what it sounds like: a game that ends in a draw, without either team achieving a victory. This doesn’t happen often, but it’s been known to occur. In fact, there was only one tie in the 2018-2019 season (The Steelers and the Browns!).
Another interesting tidbit about ties in the NFL is that they have a different set of rules for extra time. If the game is tied after the fourth period, both teams will have a chance to score in an overtime period. This period is usually ten minutes long for regular season games, and fifteen minutes for postseason games. If anyone scores before the period ends, that team will win the game. If not, then the game officially ends in a draw.
I personally prefer when games end in a tie, even though it means there’s no winner. Why? Because it’s much more exciting than a blowout. When two teams battle it out in a tight game until the end, it’s often more entertaining than if one team was clearly dominating the whole time.
So, when it comes to the NFL, do ties still exist? Yes, they do. As I mentioned before, they occur very rarely, but they can, and do, happen. As a fan, I think it adds a certain level of excitement and anticipation to the sport.
In recent years, there have been some proposed changes to the NFL overtime rules in order to reduce the number of ties. For example, there’s a proposal to shorten the overtime period from ten or fifteen minutes to five minutes, and to make the first team to score a field goal the winner. These rules haven’t been passed yet, but they are constantly being discussed.
Another modern-day debate about ties in the NFL revolves around the notion of whether or not extra time should be allowed at all. Some argue that NFL games should have a definitive winner and loser, meaning there should be no extra time and therefore no way to tie. Others argue that extra time is part of the beauty of the sport, and should remain.
At the end of the day, ties in the NFL are very rare and have their own set of rules. They add a unique aspect to the sport, and it’s exciting when it does happen. As a fan of the game, I wouldn’t want to miss out on a great tie, so I’m hoping it stays around!
To sum it up, I believe that ties are an essential part of the NFL. They provide an exciting finish to any game and help level the playing field in matchups between two evenly matched teams. I also feel that extra time should be allowed in the event of a tie, so that neither team is penalized for playing well enough to draw.
That said, I do understand why some people argue for eliminating ties entirely, in order to make sure there is always a definitive winner and loser for each game. But in my opinion, the excitement and suspense of an NFL tie is simply too great to miss, and a tie can often be just as fulfilling as an outright victory!