# How should the NFL handle the missed games? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [September 17, 2001, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-the-nfl-handle-the-missed-games/82261 "2001-09-17T21:48:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![brad\_d](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/50afbb/32.png) [@brad\_d](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brad_d)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2001, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-the-nfl-handle-the-missed-games/82261/21 "2001-09-19T22:48:03Z")
The National Automobile Dealers Association, booked in New Orleans for the week after the Super Bowl, has [declined](http://espn.go.com/nfl/columns/pasquarelli_len/1252760.html) the NFL’s request to trade dates. Simply moving the Super Bowl back one week and keeping it in New Orleans does not seem to be an option now. I was about to summarize the other available choices that they’re considering, but on preview it seems that **ShibbOleth** has covered that quite nicely. An article explaining some of the reasoning is available [here](http://msn.espn.go.com/nfl/news/2001/0918/1252462.html). ---
**Author:** ![DKW](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dkw/32/3118_2.png) [@DKW](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DKW)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2001, 6:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-the-nfl-handle-the-missed-games/82261/22 "2001-09-20T06:24:21Z")
When I originally proposed the common-sense thing, i.e., move the schedule back one week, I had no idea that the Super Bowl date was carved in stone. Sorry if I sounded insensitive or anything. Sheesh, if missing a week could cause this much trouble, they should’ve never skipped a week to begin with. _Sigh_…well, they did, so let’s take a look at what we got. 1. Again, the Super Bowl date cannot be moved no matter what. 2. Cancelling wild card games isn’t an option because of the lost revenue. 3. Cancelling a week of the regular season isn’t an option for the same reason. 4. Unless the league is willing to _add_ four more playoff teams, the playoffs are still going to be four rounds. 5. There’s no bye week before the Super Bowl this season. Okay…here’s my solution: Hold the wild card playoffs on the Wednesday or Thursday night prior to the divisional playoffs. Yes, it’ll force a few teams to play three games in the span of eight days. Your point? In case you haven’t noticed, we don’t have _any_ easy solutions right now; at least mine meets all of the league’s requirements. Besides, this will actually increase the importance of winning the division and getting that all-important first round bye, which should make for an exciting regular season. ---
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2001, 1:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-the-nfl-handle-the-missed-games/82261/23 "2001-09-20T13:32:02Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by DKW \* > > Okay…here’s my solution: > > Hold the wild card playoffs on the Wednesday or Thursday night prior to the divisional playoffs. Pssst… **DKW** …that’s pretty much what **lno** had proposed and what the NFL itself is looking into as option [3] which I outlined above. I also stated my belief that they will lean this way. But thanks for the support. ---
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2001, 1:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-the-nfl-handle-the-missed-games/82261/24 "2001-09-20T13:43:16Z")
Just got this e-mail from **Dan Pompeii** of **The Sporting News** : > [@](#): > > There is only one plan that makes sense for the NFL playoff format. > > It is not the plan to eliminate four wild-card qualifiers and begin the playoffs with only eight teams. That isn’t fair to the teams that work so hard to qualify, and to the general managers, coaches and players who will lose their jobs because their teams would fail to make the playoffs. And most importantly, it doesn’t make economic sense to refund the television networks as much as $60 million for failing to provide inventory that is very providable. > > It is not the plan to move the Super Bowl back one week in New Orleans. The auto convention that is scheduled for New Orleans the week after the Super Bowl is too big to move, and too big to coexist with a Super Bowl. > > It is not the plan, submitted by Broncos coach Mike Shanahan, to have some teams play three playoff games in eight days. This is a better plan than the one that would eliminate the four wild-card qualifiers altogether, but not by much. The playoffs are too important to compromise teams by having them play games so quickly. Logistics, planning and physical preparation would be very difficult. And it isn’t only the four “extra” wild-card teams that would be inconvenienced. So would the third division winners from each conference and the wild-card teams with the best records in each conference. > > The plan that is the solution is the one that would push the Super Bowl back to the one week and play somewhere other than New Orleans. **And as you read these words, this plan is gathering momentum around the NFL, according to league sources.** Note: emphasis is mine. For the full text, [check here](http://www.sportingnews.com/voices/dan_pompei/20010919.html). ---
**Author:** ![ladyfoxfyre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ad7895/32.png) [@ladyfoxfyre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ladyfoxfyre)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2001, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-the-nfl-handle-the-missed-games/82261/25 "2001-09-21T00:42:59Z")
I heard on the radio that they were going to condense the Championship games into one double-header in New Orleans to make up for lost revinue, and then host the Super Bowl somewhere else. I dunno though, I haven’t heard anything else. ---
**Author:** ![Shirley\_Ujest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shirley\_Ujest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shirley_Ujest)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2001, 2:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-the-nfl-handle-the-missed-games/82261/26 "2001-09-21T02:09:38Z")
Shirley’s Easy Solution: 1. Give Detroit the Win for the game missed. ( They aren’t going to be contenders anyways. ) 2. To make up for the game that was missed - this is key here people - just have the specialty team play for one quarter punting the ball between the goal posts. No QB, no running plays. Just snap, kick, It’s Good! Run down to the other end of the feild: snap, kick, It’s Good! Whomever has the most feild goals at the end of the quarter wins. All the games come down to punting anyways, so make these little accounting majors who kick like Rockettes actually have a reason to wash their jersy after a game. Naturally, since this makes the most sense, it will be disregarded. ---
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2001, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-the-nfl-handle-the-missed-games/82261/27 "2001-09-21T15:47:59Z")
Okay, **IF** , and it’s a big if, they decide to move the Super Bowl out of New Orleans to accomodate playing the follwing week, here is the short list of cities that could do it: [li]Los Angeles[/li][li]Miami[/li]Tampa ---
**Author:** ![lno](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/a8b319/32.png) [@lno](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lno)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2001, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-the-nfl-handle-the-missed-games/82261/28 "2001-09-21T23:42:01Z")
Des Moines. C’mon, you know you want to see the Super Bowl there. ---
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2001, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-the-nfl-handle-the-missed-games/82261/29 "2001-09-22T00:42:37Z")
You know, they looked at Des Moines, but it turns out that both the Holiday Inn and the Motel 6 are booked up that weekend. Sorry, **lno**. ---
**Author:** ![lno](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/a8b319/32.png) [@lno](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lno)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2001, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-the-nfl-handle-the-missed-games/82261/30 "2001-09-22T16:37:45Z")
But there’s all that parking available! Early February, no crops to worry about, lot of flat ground … at ten bucks a car, those farmers will make out like bandits. See, the NFL just doesn’t think these things through nearly enough. ---
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2001, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-the-nfl-handle-the-missed-games/82261/31 "2001-09-22T17:30:27Z")
Hmmm… early February… Des Moines… I think the chi-chi Super Bowl crowd would freeze to death. It would make for a great Packers v Colts Super Bowl, with Taylor blocking for Hornung with Unitas on the other side. And think of the cheesehead tailgating opportunities. Then you could just have motorhomes and ice fishing huts, no hotels required. Genius as always, my dear **lno** , pure genius! ---
**Author:** ![Gazoo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ce73a5/32.png) [@Gazoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gazoo)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2001, 12:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-the-nfl-handle-the-missed-games/82261/32 "2001-09-23T00:38:01Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Shirley Ujest \* > \*\*Shirley’s Easy Solution: > > 1. Give Detroit the Win for the game missed. ( They aren’t going to be contenders anyways. ) > \*\* Which game would that be? 😕 Here’s how it will work out, in order of probability: 1. Wildcards get reduced from 6 to 2. The Superbowl is held the same weekend as originally planned. 2. They “pay off” NADA and have the Superbowl the week after it’s scheduled (Feb. 3). One potential problem here that no one has brought up, is what happens if they flip with NADA and the Saints have a home playoff game on Jan. 27? The potential loss to the NFL is around 50-60 million. Rumors say they offered NADA $10 million already. 1. [This is the worst option, by far, IMO] Play the Superbowl in Miami on Feb. 3. To make it up to New Orleans, they get both conference championships on the prior weekend. This is such a bad idea on numerous fronts. For one, the home field advantage is gone. Second, they’ll be scrambling to get things in order in Miami on time, especially with the need for enhanced security. Personally, I have no problem with option #1. The #5 and #6 seeds rarely make an impact in the playoffs anyway (never made the superbowl, BTW). Yes, it means that one of Baltimore, Tennessee, Denver, Oakland won’t make the playoffs. Win the damn games then! ---
**Author:** ![imthjckaz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/imthjckaz/32/3223_2.png) [@imthjckaz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/imthjckaz)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2001, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-the-nfl-handle-the-missed-games/82261/33 "2001-09-23T01:30:12Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by lno \* > \*\*Des Moines. > > C’mon, you know you want to see the Super Bowl there. \*\* You may have something there **lno** , I believe that in Iowa, if you build it, they will come. Wait a minute, thats baseball. Nevermind. ---
**Author:** ![Gazoo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ce73a5/32.png) [@Gazoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gazoo)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2001, 1:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-the-nfl-handle-the-missed-games/82261/34 "2001-09-23T01:32:19Z")
People will come, **Ino**. People will most definitely come. ---
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2001, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-the-nfl-handle-the-missed-games/82261/35 "2001-10-02T14:05:41Z")
Looks like they are getting close to a final decision here: > [@](#): > > from [this article](http://www.usatoday.com/sports/sphoto.htm) in USA Today. > > EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — A deal to move the Super Bowl in New Orleans to Feb. 3 appeared almost certain on Monday after conclusive talks between NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue and officials connected with the National Association of Automobile Dealers. > > Tagliabue said he expected a decision within the next 24-48 hours. “We made a proposal to them this afternoon,” he said. “They are considering it and are supposed to get back to us.” So it seems almost a done deal that the Super Bowl will be moved back a week in New Orleans. Most of the pundits were wrong, and it looks as if **TexasSpur** was on the money. ---
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2001, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-the-nfl-handle-the-missed-games/82261/36 "2001-10-02T14:07:00Z")
Oh, and sorry **Des Moines**! Always a bridesmaid, never a bride… ☹ [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-the-nfl-handle-the-missed-games/82261.md?page=1)