# NFL 2021: Week Fifteen Minutes of Fame **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Tags:** football-nfl\ **Created:** [December 16, 2021, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2021-week-fifteen-minutes-of-fame/956162 "2021-12-16T17:02:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![ShadowFacts](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shadowfacts/32/2934_2.png) [@ShadowFacts](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShadowFacts)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2021, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2021-week-fifteen-minutes-of-fame/956162/41 "2021-12-17T22:54:27Z")
I’m not “rejecting” the numbers. The numbers are great! All hail the numbers! I’m saying that what they were doing wasn’t working, but they kept doing it. Maybe there was a reason for their 4th down failures that the numbers cannot quantify? Maybe their QB had the jitters because the stakes were high or the defense had figured out the snap count or something? Maybe their playcaller had a stomach ache or was distracted by a pretty lady in the stands? Whatever the reason, their 4th down plays were failing, over and over and over again, costing them at least 9 points, maybe more. All I am suggesting is that, _in those circumstances_, maybe kick a field goal once in a while to get some damn points on the board. ETA: Kicking a field goal in those circumstances is not necessarily “playing not to lose” and has nothing to do with “traditionalism.” As I said above, I like it when teams go for it on 4th, as a general proposition. ---
**Author:** ![SuntanLotion](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/suntanlotion/32/16165_2.png) [@SuntanLotion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SuntanLotion)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2021, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2021-week-fifteen-minutes-of-fame/956162/42 "2021-12-17T23:01:09Z")
I’m wondering what moment ever happened where a play seemed ridiculous or too much of a long shot and then it worked. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2021, 12:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2021-week-fifteen-minutes-of-fame/956162/43 "2021-12-18T00:48:35Z")
> [@ShadowFacts](#): > > Otherwise we would have bots coaching every NFL team. Jacksonville should give this suggestion **very** careful consideration. ---
**Author:** ![SenorBeef](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senorbeef/32/2220_2.png) [@SenorBeef](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SenorBeef)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2021, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2021-week-fifteen-minutes-of-fame/956162/44 "2021-12-19T18:04:54Z")
Not a great slate of games this afternoon. Watch Tennessee At Pittsburgh I guess? ---
**Author:** ![3AxisCtrl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/3/ecd19e/32.png) [@3AxisCtrl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/3AxisCtrl)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2021, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2021-week-fifteen-minutes-of-fame/956162/45 "2021-12-19T19:42:11Z")
Lions leading the Cardinals at halftime: 17 - 0. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2021, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2021-week-fifteen-minutes-of-fame/956162/46 "2021-12-19T19:56:53Z")
> [@3AxisCtrl](#): > > Lions leading the Cardinals at halftime As a Packers fan, today, I am also a Lions fan. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![SuntanLotion](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/suntanlotion/32/16165_2.png) [@SuntanLotion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SuntanLotion)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2021, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2021-week-fifteen-minutes-of-fame/956162/47 "2021-12-19T19:59:41Z")
Nothing surprises me any more. They are 24-3. Now I have hopes my Ravens will win. (Full moon affecting games). kidding ---
**Author:** ![Hamlet](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hamlet/32/2818_2.png) [@Hamlet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hamlet)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2021, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2021-week-fifteen-minutes-of-fame/956162/48 "2021-12-19T20:43:28Z")
> [@SenorBeef](#): > > Not a great slate of games this afternoon. Watch Tennessee At Pittsburgh I guess? Don’t. I am, and it’s horrible. Titans have turned the ball over 3 times, and the Steelers are awful on offense and only have a 3 point lead. It’s bad football. ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2021, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2021-week-fifteen-minutes-of-fame/956162/49 "2021-12-19T21:07:55Z")
> [@SuntanLotion](#): > > The Cardinals and Lions. If the Lions win, the world will turn upside down. ˙udoʇɐʇuǝᴉɹo ʍǝu sᴉɥʇ 'lǝǝɟ ʇᴉ s,ʍoɥ ---
**Author:** ![3AxisCtrl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/3/ecd19e/32.png) [@3AxisCtrl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/3AxisCtrl)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2021, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2021-week-fifteen-minutes-of-fame/956162/50 "2021-12-19T21:10:51Z")
Lions crush the upstart Cardinals, 30 - 12. Jared “The Machine” Goff turns in his usual dominating QB performance: 21 for 26, 3 TDs, no interceptions, 140 rating. ---
**Author:** ![SuntanLotion](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/suntanlotion/32/16165_2.png) [@SuntanLotion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SuntanLotion)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2021, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2021-week-fifteen-minutes-of-fame/956162/51 "2021-12-19T21:26:51Z")
Cute🙃 ---
**Author:** ![Hamlet](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hamlet/32/2818_2.png) [@Hamlet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hamlet)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2021, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2021-week-fifteen-minutes-of-fame/956162/52 "2021-12-19T21:38:44Z")
Ravens go for it on 4th and goal at the three. Packers get a stop, for a turnover on downs. I’m liking this foregoing field goals things. ---
**Author:** ![smithsb](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smithsb/32/12107_2.png) [@smithsb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smithsb)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2021, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2021-week-fifteen-minutes-of-fame/956162/53 "2021-12-19T21:55:15Z")
> [@3AxisCtrl](#): > > Lions crush the upstart Cardinals, 30 - 12. Jared “The Machine” Goff turns in his usual dominating QB performance: 21 for 26, 3 TDs, no interceptions, 140 rating. > **[Didn't see that one coming - stevie wonder - Meme Generator](https://memegenerator.net/instance/62025096/stevie-wonder-didnt-see-that-one-coming)** > > Didn't see that one coming - stevie wonder ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2021, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2021-week-fifteen-minutes-of-fame/956162/54 "2021-12-19T22:32:17Z")
This is a historically bad loss for the Cardinals. > ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2021, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2021-week-fifteen-minutes-of-fame/956162/55 "2021-12-19T22:49:13Z")
OK football fans, here’s a football question that does not deserve its own thread. When a quarterback wants to start and then end a play quickly in order to stop the game clock from ticking away, he will spike the ball. Recieve the snap, then immediately throw it to the ground, near no receiver whatsoever. How is this not an intentional grounding foul? ---
**Author:** ![3AxisCtrl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/3/ecd19e/32.png) [@3AxisCtrl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/3AxisCtrl)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2021, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2021-week-fifteen-minutes-of-fame/956162/56 "2021-12-19T22:53:33Z")
> [@bobot](#): > > How is this not an intentional grounding foul? The rules provide a special exception for this. > A player under center is permitted to stop the game clock legally to save time if, immediately upon receiving the snap, he begins a continuous throwing motion and throws the ball directly into the ground. Note that it must be immediate. The “delayed spike” is a QB blunder that results in loss of down. ---
**Author:** ![Railer13](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/railer13/32/9742_2.png) [@Railer13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Railer13)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2021, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2021-week-fifteen-minutes-of-fame/956162/57 "2021-12-19T22:56:47Z")
> [@3AxisCtrl](#): > > Note that it must be immediate. The “delayed spike” is a QB blunder, resulting in loss of down. Also, the clock MUST be running. If it’s a dead-ball snap, and the QB spikes the ball, it’s intentional grounding. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2021, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2021-week-fifteen-minutes-of-fame/956162/58 "2021-12-19T23:00:36Z")
> [@3AxisCtrl](#): > > The rules provide a special exception for this. And, it wasn’t always legal, either – the exemption to the intentional grounding rule for the “spike” was only instituted in the early '90s, I believe. ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2021, 11:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2021-week-fifteen-minutes-of-fame/956162/59 "2021-12-19T23:15:29Z")
Thanks for the responses! ---
**Author:** ![3AxisCtrl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/3/ecd19e/32.png) [@3AxisCtrl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/3AxisCtrl)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2021, 11:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2021-week-fifteen-minutes-of-fame/956162/60 "2021-12-19T23:17:57Z")
> [@3AxisCtrl](#): > > The “delayed spike” is a QB blunder that results in loss of down. I think this comment is a bit misleading, as the “undelayed spike” also causes a loss of down (i.e. it has the same effect as an incomplete pass). The “delayed spike” incurs the penalty for intentional grounding: 10 yards and - unlike most penalties - loss of down. Additionally, if it happens after the 2-minute warning of either half, it causes a 10-second clock runoff. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2021-week-fifteen-minutes-of-fame/956162.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2021-week-fifteen-minutes-of-fame/956162.md?page=4)