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Possibility of a very strange situation in week 17 (1 Viewer)

Assani Fisher

Assani Fisher

Footballguy
Theres probably less than a 1% chance of all of this actually happening, but for some reason my brain is fascinated by strange hypotheticals like this....

Suppose that Chicago and NY Giants win out, and suppose that Washington and Dallas both win in week 16. That would mean that the winner of Washington/Dallas in week 17 would win the NFC East but they would both miss the playoffs if they tied. Theres talk about that game being flexed to SNF and the Giants and Bears both play early games in week 17, so I would assume that both coaching staffs would be aware of the Chi/NY results and would alter their strategies accordingly. Some weird stuff that would then occur:

-If they played 14:55 of overtime and there was only time for one more play, the defense would not want to tackle the offensive player because that would result in the game ending and them missing the playoffs. Their only chance would be to try to create a turnover and return it for a touchdown. Moreover, if a turnover did occur then the offense would never want to tackle the defensive player with the ball because that would end their season. It'd be the strangest play of all time with neither team wanting the play to end.

-As the overtime clock starts to near zero, both teams would desperately want to preserve clock. That means that both the offense and the defense would be greatly aided by the offensive player running out of bounds instead of being tackled in bounds. How exactly this would affect play calling(from both offense and defense) and how it affects tackling strategies I'm not sure.

-Both teams would want to take wild chances to win because a tie is no different than a loss. It would be mutually beneficial if the two head coaches got together and made some sort of pact to start taking crazy chances so long as the other coach also did it(actually even if the other coach didn't do it you'd still want to do it, but obviously it'd be better for you if you could convince him to do it as well). Are there any official NFL rules regarding this type of "collusion"?

-What if one coach realizes all this but the other coach is clueless and is doing something stupid like letting the clock run down while the QB calls audibles at the line....would it be against the rules for one coach to call timeout and go over to the other sideline to explain the situation to his counterpart?

 
You are right, it would never happen.

Even if we got to the scenario where a turnover happened at the end of a game the opposing team would tackle the defender because that would be the natural reaction.

Case in point, very often we see a defender intercept a ball when a team is going for it on 4th down, even though swatting the ball down would result in better field position.

Interesting observation though.

 
In this situation, I foresee Romo throwing an INT on the game's final play, then making a great diving tackle to seal the tie and knock both teams out of the playoffs.

 
I feel what you were driving at. Final play each side wants to score without the continuous play ending. The swats at the ball with no attempt to tackle would never happen and here is why. The team that allowed a score while only swatting at the ball would then forever be known as the team who couldn't even tie. The film of this play would make the losing team look moronic and weird.

 
Last edited by a moderator:
'jim k said:
I feel what you were driving at. Final play each side wants to score without the continuous play ending. The swats at the ball with no attempt to tackle would never happen and here is why. The team that allowed a score while only swatting at the ball would then forever be known as the team who couldn't even tie. The film of this play would make the losing team look moronic and weird.
Click to expand...
It's more moronic to play to not lose than play to win.
 
Wow, that's pretty crazy. Although thinking about the matchup, the thing you're neglecting is the rivalry between the Redskins and the Cowboys.

Things Redskins fans want 1) Redskins to win 2) Cowboys to lose. Obviously getting to the playoffs is a much bigger goal. But keeping the Cowboys out of the playoffs would be a nice consolation prize for the Redskins if they couldn't get in.

 
this is brilliant, if this scenario happened it would make my week. If I was Garrett or Shanahan I would call timeout and make clear to every player "Do Not Go Down Ever!" and probably go across the field to make sure the other team knew what was going on as well

 
I'm a little confused here. Doesn't each division winner automatically receive a playoff berth? So whoever wins the NFC east makes the playoffs? If Washington wins out then they win NFC east and get playoff berth making the scenario posed mute.

I apologize in advance if I'm being ignorant

 
'hines said:
this is brilliant, if this scenario happened it would make my week. If I was Garrett or Shanahan I would call timeout and make clear to every player "Do Not Go Down Ever!" and probably go across the field to make sure the other team knew what was going on as well
Click to expand...
I think they already told my wife
 
'sontzu said:
I'm a little confused here. Doesn't each division winner automatically receive a playoff berth? So whoever wins the NFC east makes the playoffs? If Washington wins out then they win NFC east and get playoff berth making the scenario posed mute. I apologize in advance if I'm being ignorant
Click to expand...
"moot", not "mute".and the giants would win the division if they tied.
 
'Assani Fisher said:
Theres probably less than a 1% chance of all of this actually happening, but for some reason my brain is fascinated by strange hypotheticals like this....Suppose that Chicago and NY Giants win out, and suppose that Washington and Dallas both win in week 16. That would mean that the winner of Washington/Dallas in week 17 would win the NFC East but they would both miss the playoffs if they tied. Theres talk about that game being flexed to SNF and the Giants and Bears both play early games in week 17, so I would assume that both coaching staffs would be aware of the Chi/NY results and would alter their strategies accordingly. Some weird stuff that would then occur:-If they played 14:55 of overtime and there was only time for one more play, the defense would not want to tackle the offensive player because that would result in the game ending and them missing the playoffs. Their only chance would be to try to create a turnover and return it for a touchdown. Moreover, if a turnover did occur then the offense would never want to tackle the defensive player with the ball because that would end their season. It'd be the strangest play of all time with neither team wanting the play to end.-As the overtime clock starts to near zero, both teams would desperately want to preserve clock. That means that both the offense and the defense would be greatly aided by the offensive player running out of bounds instead of being tackled in bounds. How exactly this would affect play calling(from both offense and defense) and how it affects tackling strategies I'm not sure.-Both teams would want to take wild chances to win because a tie is no different than a loss. It would be mutually beneficial if the two head coaches got together and made some sort of pact to start taking crazy chances so long as the other coach also did it(actually even if the other coach didn't do it you'd still want to do it, but obviously it'd be better for you if you could convince him to do it as well). Are there any official NFL rules regarding this type of "collusion"?-What if one coach realizes all this but the other coach is clueless and is doing something stupid like letting the clock run down while the QB calls audibles at the line....would it be against the rules for one coach to call timeout and go over to the other sideline to explain the situation to his counterpart?
Click to expand...
There was a time when that situation could happen in Hockey - where BOTH teams would have incentive to pull the goalie (I think the stupid shoot out and loser point rules remove that possibility.There is also the possibility that a tie could put them both in the playoffs, right?-QG
 
'Ned said:
'jim k said:
I feel what you were driving at. Final play each side wants to score without the continuous play ending. The swats at the ball with no attempt to tackle would never happen and here is why. The team that allowed a score while only swatting at the ball would then forever be known as the team who couldn't even tie. The film of this play would make the losing team look moronic and weird.
Click to expand...
It's more moronic to play to not lose than play to win.
Click to expand...
At this point in overtime both teams would be playing NOT TO TIE. This is different than playing not to lose. If you play not to lose you are still trying to tackle the ballcarrier and end the play. The point here is that neither team wants the last play in OT ending as a tie. The team on defense would swarm around the ballcarrier and just swat at the ball. Furthermore, if the team on defense allowed the other team to score that defending team would be shown in highlights on Sportscenter, etc. ad nauseum in perpetuity looking like they have palsy while the other team scored on them. Hth.
 
'jim k said:
'Ned said:
'jim k said:
I feel what you were driving at. Final play each side wants to score without the continuous play ending. The swats at the ball with no attempt to tackle would never happen and here is why. The team that allowed a score while only swatting at the ball would then forever be known as the team who couldn't even tie. The film of this play would make the losing team look moronic and weird.
Click to expand...
It's more moronic to play to not lose than play to win.
Click to expand...
At this point in overtime both teams would be playing NOT TO TIE. This is different than playing not to lose. If you play not to lose you are still trying to tackle the ballcarrier and end the play. The point here is that neither team wants the last play in OT ending as a tie. The team on defense would swarm around the ballcarrier and just swat at the ball. Furthermore, if the team on defense allowed the other team to score that defending team would be shown in highlights on Sportscenter, etc. ad nauseum in perpetuity looking like they have palsy while the other team scored on them. Hth.
Click to expand...
Although the chance of the needed scenario is very low, if l was the head coach l would at least be aware of the possibility. I would instruct the defense to assess the possibility of a pick 6 or strip 6 and if the play was stalling then perform defensive holding. This way the chance is still there to win but the last play is not some folly that could be set to the benny hill theme.
 
'jim k said:
'jim k said:
'Ned said:
'jim k said:
I feel what you were driving at. Final play each side wants to score without the continuous play ending. The swats at the ball with no attempt to tackle would never happen and here is why. The team that allowed a score while only swatting at the ball would then forever be known as the team who couldn't even tie. The film of this play would make the losing team look moronic and weird.
Click to expand...
It's more moronic to play to not lose than play to win.
Click to expand...
At this point in overtime both teams would be playing NOT TO TIE. This is different than playing not to lose. If you play not to lose you are still trying to tackle the ballcarrier and end the play. The point here is that neither team wants the last play in OT ending as a tie. The team on defense would swarm around the ballcarrier and just swat at the ball. Furthermore, if the team on defense allowed the other team to score that defending team would be shown in highlights on Sportscenter, etc. ad nauseum in perpetuity looking like they have palsy while the other team scored on them. Hth.
Click to expand...
Although the chance of the needed scenario is very low, if l was the head coach l would at least be aware of the possibility. I would instruct the defense to assess the possibility of a pick 6 or strip 6 and if the play was stalling then perform defensive holding. This way the chance is still there to win but the last play is not some folly that could be set to the benny hill theme.
Click to expand...
Rootin' like a MoFo to see the bolded come to fruition :hophead: MAKE THIS HAPPEN !!1!1! :pickle:

 
I think one of the coaches would go for 2 early in the game to avoid a tie from happening and thus overtime having a smaller chance of occurring. Who knows?

 
'sontzu said:
I'm a little confused here. Doesn't each division winner automatically receive a playoff berth? So whoever wins the NFC east makes the playoffs? If Washington wins out then they win NFC east and get playoff berth making the scenario posed mute. I apologize in advance if I'm being ignorant
Click to expand...
*moot
 
'Assani Fisher said:
-If they played 14:55 of overtime and there was only time for one more play, the defense would not want to tackle the offensive player because that would result in the game ending and them missing the playoffs. Their only chance would be to try to create a turnover and return it for a touchdown. Moreover, if a turnover did occur then the offense would never want to tackle the defensive player with the ball because that would end their season. It'd be the strangest play of all time with neither team wanting the play to end.
Click to expand...
Yeah because Washington wouldn't want to tackle a Cowboy because it would keep the Skins out of the playoffs, and vice versa...Stupid, just stupid...If either team couldn't win on the last play, both teams would play for the tie so the other wouldn't get to go...
 
'Joe Summer said:
'QuizGuy66 said:
There is also the possibility that a tie could put them both in the playoffs, right?
Click to expand...
Yes but only (I think) if another team has a tie:http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/playoffscenario?algorithm=custom&15=50554101&16=90119204
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This situation happening might have an even less change of occurrence.The Redskins and Cowboys would both have to end the season 9-6-1 (so both win week 16, and tie week 17).Washington would then win the division on best in division record (4-1-1) over Dallas (3-2-1). This of course is assuming that the Giants DO NOT win out.This would put Washington in as the #4 seed (lowest division winner as the other 3 division winners already have 10+ wins).Dallas could then make it in as a wildcard at 9-6-1 assuming Minnesota, Chicago and the Giants lose at least one more.If that happens, then maybe the Redskins and Cowboys would WANT TO TIE, so that both remain in the post season.Depending on what seed the Cowboys would then have in the playoffs, though....they could wind up playing each other again the following week, again in Washington.
 
If the redskins have the ball on the final play the Cowboys tackle them and take joy in keeping their rival from the playoffs. The reverse is true as well.

Every team wants to win over tie, so it would not be as different as you make it sound. The team with the ball at the end may be a little more aggressive, but I assure you if you have the ball at or near the end of overtime you are being aggressive anyway

 
If this scenario actually arose, and time were winding down, the best bet for either coach would be for one of them to call a timeout and go confer with the other. They flip a coin, and the loser lets the other team score. Ridiculous for a rival I know. But wouldn't a 50% chance at the playoffs be a lot better than a 0% chance?

Now the the team that got knocked out of the playoffs due to these shenanigans would probably raise holy hell (and rightfully so...).

At the very least, you run the ball and hope for a miracle TD, but tell the carrier to lateral/fumble the ball rather than get tackled.

 
'Holy Schneikes said:
If this scenario actually arose, and time were winding down, the best bet for either coach would be for one of them to call a timeout and go confer with the other. They flip a coin, and the loser lets the other team score. Ridiculous for a rival I know. But wouldn't a 50% chance at the playoffs be a lot better than a 0% chance?Now the the team that got knocked out of the playoffs due to these shenanigans would probably raise holy hell (and rightfully so...).At the very least, you run the ball and hope for a miracle TD, but tell the carrier to lateral/fumble the ball rather than get tackled.
Click to expand...
Is making the playoffs more important than a job in the NFL? Because the coaches would immediately be fired for collusion.
 
'B-Deep said:
If the redskins have the ball on the final play the Cowboys tackle them and take joy in keeping their rival from the playoffs. The reverse is true as well.
Click to expand...
You think that when faced with the decision of:1. Doing something(tackling the Redskins player) that would guarantee that the Giants make the playoffs while the Cowboys and the Redskins miss itor2. Doing something(not tackling the Redskins player and not stopping his forward progress, instead only trying to strip him of the ball) that would keep alive the Cowboys' own chances of making the playoffsthat the Cowboys players would choose #1?Obviously in the heat of the moment I understand they don't have time to think about all of this, which is why its an important part of the OP to note that the game may be flexed to SNF so that the coaching staffs would have ample time to fully understand and explain all of this
 
This is the same league where most players dont realize you can tie, right? Yeah im gonna go ahead and assume they would just tackle him.

 
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