BACK IN LATE November, when I was writing about the rash of positive drug tests plaguing the NFL, astronomers in the University of Texas discovered what is thought to be the largest black hole ever observed. Thankfully, it was found in a galaxy nearly 250 million light years from earth so we’re in no immediate danger, but it does lend itself to a rather appropriate metaphor.
You see, the prevailing theory is that black holes are crucial for the formation of galaxies. However, black holes such as the one discovered in November are so big, up to 59% of the mass of the galaxy NGC 1277, that they could eventually destroy that which they helped create.
Likewise, hard hits and big tackles are the lifeblood of the NFL but, with confirmation this week that Junior Seau – the All-Pro linebacker who took his own life in May 2012 – was suffering from chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), a disease caused by multiple hits to the head, there are those rightly questioning the future of the sport as we know it.
While Seau’s death is tragic, and helmet-to-helmet hits need to be clamped down on even more, this is primarily an issue for youth coaches to address with future generations to ensure that players learn to, and are rewarded for, tackling properly. Conversely, those that lead with their head must be punished either through penalties in the game, lengthy suspensions after it, or both.
One thing worth remembering about American football and the NFL in particular though, is that despite the figures you may hear bandied about by scaremongers regarding the dangers of the sport, professional players actually live longer and are significantly less likely to take their own lives than members of the general population.
Aside from CTE, there are a number of other significant issues facing the NFL over the coming years including the aforementioned use of performance enhancing drugs and the expansion of the league. However, this weekend, during the divisional-round of the playoffs, we caught a glimpse of all that is good about the sport.
Not so wild-card
It’s fair to say that wild-card weekend was a disappointment but the touch paper on four fantastic divisional-round games was lit in Saturday’s early fixture when Trindon Holliday returned a punt 90 yards after the Ravens’ poor opening drive, following it up later in the game with a 104-yard kickoff return.
This game had it all. -18C temperatures, non-stop scoring, a ‘Hail Mary’ pass to bring it not just to overtime but double overtime and a 47-yard field goal from a rookie to send the Ravens through to the AFC Championship game. Why John Fox told Peyton Manning to take a knee with 31 seconds and two timeouts left in normal time when he knew a field goal would win the game, only he will ever know, but it just added to the intrigue of the game.
The showpiece game on Saturday night lived up to the matinee, for a while at least, as Green Bay and San Francisco traded touchdowns until, eventually, Colin Kaepernick showed just what a special talent he could turn out to be, throwing for 263 yards and two touchdowns while running for 181 yards and a further two scores. The 49ers offence looked unstoppable by the end of this game and few would bet against them going all the way on this performance.
They will face the Atlanta Falcons in the NFC Championship game next week after Matt Ryan and Mike Smith snatched victory from the jaws of a defeat they had seemingly snatched from the jaws of victory against the Seattle Seahawks.
After taking a 20-point lead into the fourth quarter, Falcons fans could only watch in horror as Russell Wilson and the Seahawks scored three unanswered touchdowns to lead 28-27 with just 31 seconds left. However, Ryan finally lived up to his ‘Matty Ice’ moniker, getting Matt Bryant into position to score a 49-yard field goal to win the game.
The final encounter of the weekend, between New England and Houston, was the most disappointing but only because of how easy Tom Brady and the Patriots offence made the game look. As one wag on Twitter pointed out, this was a blowout disguised as a close game.
The Texans never really had a chance against the likes of Welker (131 receiving yards), Ridley (82 rushing yards, 1 touchdown) and Vereen (83 receiving yards, 41 rushing yards and 3 touchdowns) and, to be blunt, the 41-28 scoreline flatters them.
It wasn’t a perfect weekend of football by any means. If defence wins championships there was very little to suggest that any of these teams will be lifting the Vince Lombardi trophy in a few weeks. That said, I think the time has come for us to admit that, as much as we love seeing a great defence in action, nothing sets the heart racing like 70 or 80 point shootout.
The performance of the officials was also erratic at best and both the Ravens and Falcons must admit that some (ahem) borderline calls played a role in their narrow victories. However, this just added to the spectacle of one of the greatest weekends of American football that I can ever remember.
There are lots of challenges facing American football in the very near future but, unlike the black hole at the heart of NGC 1277, let’s hope the NFL doesn’t destroy itself.
Divisional-round results
- Baltimore Ravens 38 @ Denver Broncos 35
- Green Bay Packers 31 @ San Francisco 49ers 45
- Seattle Seahawks 28 @ Atlanta Falcons 30
- Houston Texans 28 @ New England 41
