The Games We Couldn’t Wait to End

Ben Roethlisberger Steelers cropped.jpg,” Wikimedia Commons, licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic, taken 15 October 2006 by Flickr user SteelCityHobbies, cropped by Quadzilla99

The NFL is filled with thrilling moments. How could you forget the 28-3 comeback, or in 1980, when Joe Montana led San Francisco back from 35–7? Moments like these remind us that the NFL is more than just teams competing — it’s a shared community where fans everywhere can appreciate greatness. On the flip side, there are games where it’s the complete opposite, where it’s an unforgettable game, not because of its dominance but because of its dismal performance.

Game 1: Bengals vs Eagles 2008

This game was a hard watch for most fans. This game was a constant back-and-forth with not much scoring. In the first quarter, it was 0-0.  Heading into the second quarter, both teams got 3 points from a field goal. With 39 seconds left in the 2^nd, the Bengals scored the first touchdown. The Eagles wouldn’t score their first touchdown until 9 minutes into the 3^rd quarter. The game would head into OT, 13-13. Fans sat through an extra 15 minutes, with neither team managing to score, leaving the fans nothing but a tie. The only interesting thing to come from this game is that it would be the first tie since 2002. Donovan McNabb, who was the Eagles QB at the time, said.

   “I’ve never been a part of a tie. I never even knew that was in the rule book.”

Both quarterbacks had decent passing yards, with McNabb having 339 yards and Fitzpatrick having 261 yards. However, each quarterback had a low rating. McNabb had a rating of 50.9, and Fitzpatrick had 89.3. McNabb had a 56% completion rate; Fitzpatrick had a 66% completion rate. McNabb also threw three interceptions. (Sorry for throwing a stat-storm at you.)

On the defensive side, it was a great game for both teams. In theory, this game came down to each offense straining to find gaps in the other’s defense. Each team held the other to one touchdown; the Eagles had 152 total tackles, and the Bengals had 114 tackles.

All in all, this was a dull game.

Game 2: Cowboys vs Packers 2010

This game is tough for Cowboys fans. The Packers dominated, winning 45-7. This game had a sluggish start, with no one scoring in the first quarter. The second quarter is where the Packers turned the game around. They scored within the first minute of the second quarter. Not only were they able to find holes in the Cowboys’ defense, but they were also able to stop Jon Kitna (Cowboys QB) from throwing. For example, Kitna dropped back looking for an open receiver and found Miles Austin downfield. But on second and nine, before the play could develop, Green Bay’s defense broke through—Clay Matthews sacked Kitna, shutting down what could have been a big gain.

As the game went on, the Packers stayed in control. By the end of the third quarter, the score was 35-7. (Packers up) When watching the game, honestly, the reason why the Cowboys lost was because of the little mistakes. Aaron Rodgers and the Packers did an exceptional job. The Cowboys’ offense was able to get through the defense most times, and the defense had a couple of good tackles throughout the game. The Cowboys did have 43 more tackles than the Packers. However, the Packers made more important tackles and stopped them before getting the next down. When watching it just feels like a drag for Cowboys fans, because it was the Packers putting points up over and over with no end. The final score of the game ended up being 45-7.

Game 3: Pittsburgh vs Miami, 2007

This game was never going to be a good turnout. For one, the field was a mess; it had rained all day before the game, and so it was very muddy. For two, Miami went into this game with a record of 0-10. The game also had a 25-minute delay due to lightning. In hindsight, that should’ve been a sign that this wasn’t going to be a good game.

There isn’t much to be said. It was just a constant back and forth. Combined, they had 375 yards. No points were scored until 17 seconds left on the clock, with the Steelers making a field goal for 3 points to end the game. (Final score: 3-0) There were some good plays here and there, but it would never lead to anything. Or the highlight of the quarter would be a good run or a good catch.

That’s honestly the only stuff that happened in that game. If I continued to write more, it would just be filler. This game was ugly start to finish. The ending was the only thing worth watching.