NEWSLETTER
I saw something absolutely awesome and absurd today, so I figured you’d want to see it, too. And maybe give yourself a rooting interest in Sunday afternoon’s otherwise-whatever Colts-Jaguars game.
Behold, the reason we want the Jags to win:
Here's something totally bonkers: If the Colts lose to the Jaguars Sunday, the Raiders and Chargers would both get in with a tie. Literally, there would be no motivation for either team to do anything other than kneel it out 15 times each.
— Adam Beasley (@AdamHBeasley) January 3, 2022
A Colts loss (9-8) would temporarily drop them behind the Raiders and Chargers (9-7), with two Wild Card spots remaining in the AFC. So if neither the Raiders nor the Chargers LOST their game, then boom, they are the final two teams. And because the Raiders and Chargers play later that night, they’re going to know the Jags-Colts outcome long before they take the field. Indeed, in plenty of time to make a phone call!
Now, would anything like this actually happen? Of course not. Each team will be playing for a postseason spot – win and they’re in as the 6 seed – and they will almost certainly behave accordingly.
But what if the game, of its own volition, goes to overtime? And what if there is no scoring immediately? There might come a point where at least one of the teams starts playing for a tie. And if it’s clear that your opponent is playing for a tie … and the playoff result for you is the same whether it’s a tie or a win … might you not join them in those tie-ish efforts?
I would REALLY like to see this play out, just for the wild commentary that Sunday night, especially if the game is close in the 4th quarter …
