An Angry Fan's View on How Offense Has Taken Over the NFL

As the playoffs rapidly approach, an upsetting fact upstages everything else. Even the “race” for the AFC Wild Card.

January will be an exhibition for the offenses. Defenses? Pull up a chair.

This may appeal to the Madden generation but this is not what the NFL needs. The problem with offensive shootouts is that every time a touchdown is scored, it has less meaning.

This restrains the traditional Monday morning chatter of second-guessing a crucial play in the game, or a blown call by the official.

When the scores are the likes of 42-38, plays lose significance. That is a fact. The 80-yard bombs or ridiculous punt returns may look good on the highlights after the fact but can’t be cited as a game changer or a back breaker.

Throughout 2009 it has been an offense’s game. While this is a credit to the development of upper tier quarterbacks and the evolution of the offense’s playbook, it is a major reason why parity was not prominent this year in the NFL. Take a look at all of the horrible teams the NFL has allowed quality teams to feed on.

Understand that defense is the great equalizer. For example, the Jets on offense have more often then not looked like the Summit High School team that Rex admittedly extracted plays from. Yet they are 7-7, and could be better as they have been in virtually every game they have played this season.

Although they do not possess the true swagger of a number one defense, they are allocated in that top slot because they are the only team in the NFL that has played consistent defense week to week. Their sack numbers aren’t very high, nor are their forced turnover rate. But they force teams to punt on a regular basis, which is enough for them to earn the label of an “elite” defense.

Unless it’s the last ten minutes of the fourth quarter.

One problem I have with the NFL is that they are promoting the league to be an offense’s game. It’s understandable because offense does sell tickets, and jerseys, and memorabilia, and more beer (don’t believe me? Offense leads to longer games, which gives fans a larger window to stumble over to the stand and dump another 10 bucks into a single drink).

But if they are trying to preach parity, as they so insist, then this offensive revolution is not in the NFL’s best interest. Ever since the Patriots mugged the Colts receivers in the 2003 AFC Championship games, officials have made it a priority to toss the flag on any semblance of contact passed five yards. Defenses are playing in fear of touching the receiver down the field, which further removes their chances of staying with them.

It may be frustrating, but the NFL is committed to removing subjectivity from the referee’s train of thought. If a linebacker touches a receiver eight yards down the field, throw the flag. All of a sudden that critical sack in the third quarter goes for naught and the second and 22 turns into a first and ten.

My biggest pet peeve in terms of how the game is called is on pass interference. It is absolutely ridiculous how often these plays are improperly called. It’s gotten to the point that if a receiver is well covered down the field, he can embellish a fall and turn a sure incompletion into a 50-yard gain.

The NFL needs to implement a ten-yard pass interference penalty. As this has become an offensive-oriented game, the tendency to throw flags on plays that are simply shut down by the cornerbacks are higher than ever. It’s one thing if a mistake costs a team ten yards, but fifty? A first and goal at the one?

I know I just mentioned that referees do not have the leeway they once did to make calls. The NFL does everything in its power to protect the officials from criticism, which they inevitably receive anyway. It’s time to take off their training wheels and allow them to make a decision. If the contact down the field was not severe enough to prevent the receiver from making the catch, it should be a ten-yard penalty.

My theories regarding defense certainly represent an old school of thought. And right now, the game is for the new school (3D at a football game? Really?). But I hope I’m surprised in the playoffs and see scores within the teens and twenties. Ultimately, it will make for a more memorable game.