Post by zebrablog on Mar 16, 2014 17:26:20 GMT -5
So, as you may be aware, I am writing a book in the offseason about the rules of football and real-life applications of the rules. I am doing research on a couple of chapters, and I thought it might be a more informative exercise if I open some of the items for discussion.
Currently, I am working on chapters regarding overtime and kickoffs. Do you recall any unusual rules applications in either of these areas?
Some items I have covered:
The sudden death provision was added to the NFL for divisional playoffs only in 1941. Divisional playoff games were only played as necessary to break a division tie to determine the championship game participant (similar to baseball's one-game playoff). The rule was passed as a result of the rival American Association's 1940 postseason. The Long Island and Newark teams played to a scoreless tie in the one-game playoff to determine the fourth-place team that would advance to the playoffs the following weekend. A midweek game was hastily scheduled to try to break the tie again. That game was snowed out. Newark advanced to the playoffs by winning 3 out of 5 on coin flips.
The Dixie League championship in 1936 between Washington and Baltimore ended 3-0 after a missed field goal kick by Baltimore. Had the kick been good, Baltimore would have been determined the winner by having more first downs.
The NFL's plan for a tied championship title game was to declare co-champions. After the divisional playoff sudden-death was added, the provision was extended to the title games six years later. Eleven seasons later it was "the Greatest Game Ever Played," but imagine how the popularity of the game would have been impacted if the co-championship provision still existed in 1958.
So, back to the original question, any recollections of overtime or kickoff rules that might be useful. I have the last five years covered fairly well, so older examples would work best.
Thanks for your help.
Your humble scribe,
Ben
Currently, I am working on chapters regarding overtime and kickoffs. Do you recall any unusual rules applications in either of these areas?
Some items I have covered:
- A 1984 game where the Giants recovered the opening kickoff when the Rams didn't field the kick
- A 2013 game where the Titans placed the ball on the ground without a tee on an onside kick attempt
- A 2011 game where the Patriots attempted a dropkicked onside safety kick
- For the overtime discussion, I have run down many of the modified sudden-death scenarios
The sudden death provision was added to the NFL for divisional playoffs only in 1941. Divisional playoff games were only played as necessary to break a division tie to determine the championship game participant (similar to baseball's one-game playoff). The rule was passed as a result of the rival American Association's 1940 postseason. The Long Island and Newark teams played to a scoreless tie in the one-game playoff to determine the fourth-place team that would advance to the playoffs the following weekend. A midweek game was hastily scheduled to try to break the tie again. That game was snowed out. Newark advanced to the playoffs by winning 3 out of 5 on coin flips.
The Dixie League championship in 1936 between Washington and Baltimore ended 3-0 after a missed field goal kick by Baltimore. Had the kick been good, Baltimore would have been determined the winner by having more first downs.
The NFL's plan for a tied championship title game was to declare co-champions. After the divisional playoff sudden-death was added, the provision was extended to the title games six years later. Eleven seasons later it was "the Greatest Game Ever Played," but imagine how the popularity of the game would have been impacted if the co-championship provision still existed in 1958.
So, back to the original question, any recollections of overtime or kickoff rules that might be useful. I have the last five years covered fairly well, so older examples would work best.
Thanks for your help.
Your humble scribe,
Ben