All games matter...don't they?

[Shake n Blake]

(04-21-2016, 02:03 PM)GreenCornBengal Wrote: It's just one of those football expressions that really aren't true at all.

It's like the statement "Games are won on 3rd down". Well, really, games are won on 1st, 2nd, 3rd AND 4th down... Even the thought that 3rd downs are more important than 1st and 2nd downs (the same argument that December games are worth more than November games) is incorrect because you do better on 3rd down depending how 1st and 2nd went... Games in December won't be important without the ones in November.

I get what you're saying and I definitely agree that what you do on 1st & 2nd downs has a huge affect on your 3rd downs. That said, 3rd downs are emphasized by media (and coaches) because if you don't convert, it obviously stops the drive and keeps you from scoring. Also, 3rd downs are bigger because there's more pressure and if a team keeps converting 3rd downs, it can really wear out a defense and break their will.

Just think about how it feels as a fan to watch Ben escape a sack and convert 3rd down after 3rd down. Now imagine how the players feel.

All games do matter for the standings, but there is obviously more pressure (for good teams) to win in December. You have more division games then, and often times there's more pressure in those games because teams realize the division or the top seeds are 1 win or 1 loss away.

Pressure just builds as the season progresses and it culminates with the playoffs.