The offense started strong. Everyone expected a very short game. But the defense stopped them, and moved the line of scrimmage back significantly. Everyone was shocked. No one expected the massive investments that the offense had made to underperform so badly, and the defense was far more credible than expected.

Since then it’s been a game of inches. The costs have been staggering for both sides. The sidelines have emptied out as the damage mounts. And the offense fans are getting restless. They were promised a victory, and they expect a victory. And now the concessions are running out, and you have to wait in a long line just to get a tiny serving of refreshments. The coach is genuinely afraid for his job if he doesn’t deliver.

It’s looking like fourth down. The offense seems to be in field goal range, but the chances of a turnover keep rising, and if the fans get restless enough the coach could very well be thrown out in the middle of the game—believe me, it’s happened before.

So although the offense is in field-goal range and hasn’t made significant gains in a long time, the coach is demanding a touchdown he hasn’t earned, followed by a two point conversion, and a few other things. He’d also like to start the next game on the defenses 40 yard line, and place a wide range of restrictions on the size of the defensive roster. And the defense can never, ever join the best defensive league.

And now the commissioner actually seems to be taking this seriously. But whatever you think of the current commissioner, he won’t be commissioner forever, and if we make this many rule changes now it’s very difficult to see where it will lead. For one thing, the bookmakers are going to have a very tough time setting reasonable odds after changing the rules more than they have been changed in 70 years. But the rule changes would certainly lead to an expanded calendar and a lot more action on the field, so I guess there’s that. e offense started strong. Everyone expected a very short game. But the defense stopped them, and moved the line of scrimmage back significantly. Everyone was shocked. No one expected the massive investments that the offense had made to underperform so badly, and the defense was far more credible than expected.

Since then it’s been a game of inches. The costs have been staggering for both sides. The sidelines have emptied out as the damage mounts. And the offense fans are getting restless. They were promised a victory, and they expect a victory. And now the concessions are running out, and you have to wait in a long line just to get a tiny serving of refreshments. The coach is genuinely afraid for his job if he doesn’t deliver.

It’s looking like fourth down. The offense seems to be in field goal range, but the chances of a turnover keep rising, and if the fans get restless enough the coach could very well be thrown out in the middle of the game—believe me, it’s happened before.

So although the offense is in field-goal range and hasn’t made significant gains in a long time, the coach is demanding a touchdown he hasn’t earned, followed by a two point conversion, and a few other things. He’d also like to start the next game on the defenses 40 yard line, and place a wide range of restrictions on the size of the defensive roster. And the defense can never, ever join the best defensive league.

And now the commissioner actually seems to be taking this seriously. But whatever you think of the current commissioner, he won’t be commissioner forever, and if we make this many rule changes now it’s very difficult to see where it will lead. For one thing, the bookmakers are going to have a very tough time setting reasonable odds after changing the rules more than they have been changed in 70 years. But the rule changes would certainly lead to an expanded calendar and a lot more action on the field, so I guess there’s that.