Football question

Factual Questions
1

It’s a question that I can never find an answer to in any trivia book but one that’s haunted me for years… I still don’t know the answer, so if anybody who does could also provide references, that would be great.

What is the most amount of time consumed in a football drive? Also, what’s the most amount of time consumed that didn’t end in any points being scored?

I first thought of the question when watching some Bears and Giants games and seeing how they could almost consume a whole quarter in one drive, and I got to wondering about what was the most time used.

Thanks for any help,
Brian

2

Well, is not a record kept by the NFL…I have the official Fact and Records Book, and no mention. I’m certain that the ESPN and ABC guys know it, and Stats.com probably could help you, but I imagine you’d have to have access to their interface. If its eating at you, or you really want to impress me and others I’d think you’d have to make a phone call, or e-mail the question to the authorities.

3

There have been scoreless ties back in the old days. AFAIK, there hasn’t been one since the 40s, though. But the answer is 60 minutes.

As far as the “longest drive,” that is a curiosity. Since the start of the second half does not pick up with the play at the end of the first half, the absolute longest would be 30 minutes, but I wonder if anyone keeps those kinds of statistics.

4

No doubt this is true in the pros. College games, though, have had them more recently. For example, in 1983, Oregon and Oregon State played to a scoreless tie.

That was a truly embarrasing day for college football in the state of Oregon. Not only did the two major schools not score, but among the five or six smaller schools that played that day, only one managed to get on the scoreboard (they happened to win, saving even more embarrasment for the state).

5

Correct me if I’m wrong, but the OP’s second question was asking whats the longest possession that has occured without scoring, in direct contrast to the longest scoring drive.

6

Omniscient, you are correct. I want to know the most amount of time used in one posession as well as the most amount of time used without it resulting in points being scored.

Thanks,
Brian