"A tie is like kissing your sister."
For the 17th time since 1974, NFL fans got to pucker up and lay a big, fat wet one on sis.
After 75 minutes of playing time, nearly four hours of real time, the Philadelphia Eagles and the Cincinnati Bengals finished their game tied 13-13. It was the first tie in the NFL in more than six years.
In the "thrilling" overtime period, the Eagles punted three times while gaining 37 net yards offense. Meanwhile, the Bengals netted 68 yards of offense and missed a 47-yard field goal with seven seconds remaining.
Needless to say, ties are the worst and football fans detest them. NFL fans want a winner and a loser. There’s no solace in tying, only frustration.
To help us recover from the anguish suffered from the Eagles-Bengals debacle, here are some interesting facts about the most uninteresting way for a football game to conclude.
Overtime Facts
In 1974, the NFL instituted one 15-minute overtime period for all regular season games tied at the conclusion of regulation. Prior to 1974, sudden death overtime was only used in playoff games.
The last tie in the NFL was on November 10, 2002. The Atlanta Falcons and the Pittsburgh Steelers finished the game knotted at 34-34. Michael Vick was under center for the Falcons, while Tommy Maddox was the signal caller for the Steelers.
In determining playoff spots and division rankings, a tie is calculated as .5 for a win. For instance, the Eagles are now 5-4-1 so their winning percentage is .550 (5.5/10).
Since the rule changed, the tied game with the highest score involved the Steelers and the Denver Broncos. The AFC foes fought to a 35-35 draw on September 22, 1974.
Since 1974, six games have ended in a 10-10 tie.
The most ties in a season has been two, in 1986 and 1997. In the 1973 season, there were seven tied games.
The Jacksonville Jaguars, Carolina Panthers, Seattle Seahawks, and Houston Texans are the only NFL franchises without a tie in their team’s history
Of the 28 teams with a tie, the New England Patriots have the longest tie-less streak. The Patriots last tie was week five of the 1967 season, a 31-31 draw against San Diego Chargers.
The New York Giants last home game at Yankee Stadium ended in a 23-23 tie. The game was played on September 23, 1973 and the Giants opponent was the Eagles.
The Chicago Bears have the most draws in the NFL history with 42. The Chicago/St.Louis/Phoenix/Arizona Cardinals are second with 38. The Green Bay Packers have 36 ties.
On October 24, 1983, in what's known as the worst Monday Night Football game of all-time, the Giants and Cardinals played to a 20-20 tie. Cardinal’s kicker Neil O'Donoghue missed three overtime field goal attempts, including one from extra-point distance. It is the only five-quarter tie in Monday Night Football history.
Remember when Gus Ferotte butted his head against a concrete wall during a touchdown celebration and then had to leave the game with a sprained neck? That game, between the Giants and the Washington Redskins on November 23, 1997, finished in a 7-7 tie.
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about 1 month ago
I hate the idea that they allow any sporting events to end in a tie. It's freakin professional leagues that all have an impact on the standings and playoffs. I understand that ties happen in soccer and hockey, but they should make the NFL like the MLB or NBA in that it continues until someone wins the damn game! With the exception of that horrible MLB All-Star game from recent memory, they don't let games end in a tie. The NFL should not let regular season games, especially with profound implications in the NFC East end up in a tie!
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