In 1997, during a cold, windy November day at Memorial Stadium, the Baltimore Ravens and Philadelphia Eagles played to an exasperating 10-10 tie.
Last weekend on "Sunday Night Football," the Seattle Seahawks and Arizona Cardinals did the same thing, but the 6-6 game took place in more optimum conditions at the Cardinals' fancy Glendale, Ariz., home.
Even though the settings were markedly different, the games had one thing in common: kickers from both teams missing game-winning field goals that could have made things much more neat and clean in the standings.
That's why, in 1974, the overtime rule was introduced to the NFL in the first place, to prevent muddied standings. But, in truth, the competitive balance and parity that already run rampant seems to throw a monkey wrench into things.
