Tank's Take January 24, 2003

1 Week Is Enough

As the hype surrounding Super Bowl week begins to hush for the serious matter of the game itself, we are once again reminded why it is better that there is no week off between the Championship Games and the Super Bowl. However, sadly next year we will have to suffer through the empty week again, as the Super Bowl is moved to the first Sunday in February. Fact is most fans prefer to go right from the Championships to the Super Bowl; we get enough mindless hype in 1 week, let alone 2 when it gets beyond nauseating.

The benefits of no week off goes beyond mere boredom, it is a well-documented fact that the game itself is better without a week off in between games. Some of the best Super Bowls ever have occurred with no off week. While when there are 2 weeks more often then not the commercial end up being what every one talks about at the water cooler.

With a week off the Super Bowl is much more likely to be a blowout the average margin of victory is 16. While in year without a week off the average victory margin is just 7 points, and if you exclude the Bills 2nd half collapse in Super Bowl XXVIII, the margin is just 5. In the 31 Super Bowls played with a week off just 7 games were decided by a touchdown or less, while 3 of the 5 Super Bowls played without a week off were literally decided on the final play.

Scott Norwood's missed FG, Mike Jones tackling Kevin Dyson 1-yard from the endzone and Adam Vinateiri's game winning FG have 1 thing in common, all came without a week off. The 3 most exciting Super Bowls Super Bowl XXV which the Giants won 20-19, Super Bowl XXXIV which the Rams won 23-16, and last year's Super Bowl XXXVI which the Patriots upset the Rams 20-17 all occurred without a week off.

Compare that to the exiting Ravens 34-7 win over the Giants, 2 years ago when there was a week off. That game was over in the 3rd Quarter. With the exception of 3 Touchdown returns in 36 seconds it was a forgettable Super Bowl. Other then John Elway's last game what is memorable about Super Bowl XXXIII? What is memorable about Super Bowl XXXI?

The NFL will tell you that the players benefit from an off week. With an off week they can arrange to get their entire family out to see the game. With an off week injured players can heal up and be 100% for the game. However, teams playing at their highest level can lose their momentum, and in the playoffs no one is ever 100% not even with an off week. As for family member coming to the game, why should a player have to worry about that? Do they really need their family there or do they just get in the way? Perhaps it's families under foot that can lead to the blowouts, by taking away a player's focus.

Even if studies proved players benefit from 2 weeks off that is not the NFL's true motivation behind placing an empty week in between the Championship Game and the Super Bowl. The true reason is that the Corporations and VIP's prefer 2 weeks off so they can arrange their parties. Most of these VIP's and Corporations could not careless about the Super Bowl. Some probably could not even tell you the difference between a halfback and quarterback. They just go to the Super Bowl because it's the place to be seen, and it a heck of a place to party. So why should it even matter to them?

If 1 week is not convenient for them then they don't need to go to the Super Bowl that will leave more tickets for the real fans, and the real fans are the only ones who should really matter. Oh well we know that will never happen lets just be thankful the VIP's don't want a month in between games.