HEMISPHERESMAGAZINE.COM
•
JANUARY 2013
offered more genuine excitement than the main event.
Then, suddenly, everything changed. Over the past decade the
games have not only been closer contests, but o en instant classics
as well. Six of the last nine Super Bowls were decided by less than a
touchdown, and even the gameswonby double digitswere indoubt
until the final minutes. The Super Bowl is now themost compelling
championship game in pro sports. So ... what happened?
1.
THE PASSING GAME LEVELED THE FIELD.
At theAFCchampionshipgame in 2004, an IndianapolisColts execu-
tive named Bill Polianwatched in disgust as his winning visionwas
systematically dismantled one vicious hit at a time byBill Belichick’s
NewEnglandPatriots. But Polianwasmore than theColts’ architect;
he was also a powerful member of the NFL’s Competition Commit-
tee. That offseason, he pushed for stricter enforcement of the rules
of engagement between receivers and defensive backs.
The so-called Polian Rules meant that defenses
couldn’t rough up would-be pass catchers
beyondfiveyardspastthelineofscrimmage.
Thatmadepassing easier—anda farmore
effective offensive strategy.
In a delicious bit of irony, few teams
have taken greater advantage of the
Polian Rules than the Patriots. With
their high-tempo shotgun offense
and the sublime passing skills of
quarterback Tom Brady, the Pats
have morphed into one of the great-
est offensive shows in the league (even
if their once-proud defense melted down
against last-minute passing onslaughts in
two Super Bowls).
But it’s not only the rules that have
changed. Pro football strategists have
adopted entirely new pass-oriented mind-
sets derived in part from innovations
developed in the college game, including
no-huddle offenses with as many as five
receivers. Essentially, NFL teams have
grown comfortable using their hurry-up
offenses for the entire game, not just the last
twominutes. The effect of all that throwing is that
an early deficit becomes an invitation to simply
throw more and score faster. Why waste time run-
ningwhen you canflick passes to uncovered receivers?
With that in mind, consider the fate of the poor Denver Broncos,
who lost three Super Bowls in the ’80s by a combined total of 96
points. Their offense was built on the age-old philosophy of estab-
lishing the run, which turned out to be about as effective as a koala
a acking a grizzly. Compare that with the Arizona Cardinals, who
viewed the run as a way to kill time between passes. When they fell
behind in Super Bowl XLIII against the heavily favored Steelers, the
Cards aired it out on almost every down and came within a minute
of a historic upset.
2.
FREE AGENCY FELLED THE DYNASTIES.
Think of the great dynasties of the past century, and the one thing
they have in common is consistency. Even today, fans can ra le off
the names of Pi sburgh’s Steel Curtaindefense or the key figures in
culture
||
THE FAN
What if dogs could
prescribe their
own treatments?
Questions lead to better answers.
This belief drove Virbac Animal Health
to develop an innovative way to deliver
ear treatment quickly and accurately, in
whatever position is most comfortable for
the dog. It’s just one example of how we’re
continually developing solutions that answer
the needs of pets and their veterinarians.
© 2013 Virbac AH, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 1/13
13456
See where our
curiosity will take us
next. Learn more at
