I tried the NFL site and it’s associated “record and fact book” link and they were of no help…
so I turn to the greatest expert football minds that inhabit this place.
What is the worst “4th down and x yards to go” situation that a team has ever been in terms of field position and distance to a first down required? I realize it likely involved a couple of sacks plus penalties over several plays, but any takers?
Cheers Mike30
I doubt anyone knows this for any certainty. Football play-by-plays have only been kept with any semblance of order for the past 10 years I think.
If you had game films from every game, you could try to figure it out, but that would likely only take you back to the 1960s.
Prior to the 1960s, there isn’t a lot of documentation of NFL events.
I have seen 4th and over 40 yards to go several times, so I wouldn’t be surprised if someone got into a 4th and 50 or 60.
You could only have a 4th and 98 if you started with a 1st and 10 at the 11 and then started going backwards.
Mike30 wrote:
“…I realize it likely involved a couple of sacks plus penalties over several plays, but any takers?..”
My guess is that a really, really, really long 4th and [big number here] play would more likely be the result of a miscue that was recovered by the offense after it was lateralled, kicked or snapped backwards.
This is college, but as a Nebraska fan/alum, I recall a 3rd and 40. It was during a Fiesta Bowl vs Florida State (1990, IIRC).
Why do I remember that? Because FSU converted :mad:
Needless to say, we got our asses handed to us.
IIRC, (to early to do the research) the University of Miami was at Notre Dame (one of the infamous convicts v. catholics matchups) and after a series of miscues (sacks and an uneccessary roughness penalty) they ended up converting a 3rd and 59.
Do you mean as a scenario OR that was sucessfully converted?
Actually, it was third and 44. It followed a penalty and fumble, not sacks. And Miami did it at home, not at ND. (cite)
I seem to recall a NFL Films Football Foolies type presentation when they showed a shot of a scoreboard with 4th and 48 on it. I don’t recall the teams and I don’t think there was any indication of when the game took place, though it looked vaguely “70’s-ish”.
Once, I believe it was 1983, Seattle was first and Goal to go on the 42. I think it was the last game of the season, and we had to win to back into the playoffs. We won, beat someone, beat Miami, then lost to the (LA?) Raiders who went on to beat the Redskins.
Its been downhill since…
I most I’ve ever seen personally was 3rd and 45 - caused by some miscues and major penalties. (CFL, so 3rd = 4th for purposes of the question.)
It was the Riders, at a home game. Why do I go?