The NFL needed a day like Sunday.
More specifically, a league facing diminishing ratings and a declining product needed the thrilling, engaging games that played out in Pittsburgh and New England.
According to NFL Media Research, back-and-forth games between the Dallas Cowboys and Pittsburgh Steelers and the Seattle Seahawks and New England Patriots marked the first time in NFL history two games in the same week had at least seven lead changes.
#DALvsPIT: 7 lead changes#SEAvsNE: 7 lead changes
This is the first day in NFL history with multiple games feauring 7+ lead changes
— NFL Research (@NFLResearch) November 14, 2016
The Cowboys’ 35-30 win over the Steelers featured three lead changes in just the final two minutes. A Ben Roethlisberger touchdown pass on a fake spike play was sandwiched between two Ezekiel Elliott touchdown runs, including the game-winner nine seconds left.
The Seahawks survived a trip to New England on Sunday night thanks to a goal line stand late in the fourth quarter. Tom Brady’s fourth down fade pass to Rob Gronkowski fell incomplete with 11 seconds left, and the Seahawks escaped with a 31-24 win in a rematch of Super Bowl XLIX.
Both were well-played games between talented rosters. The action was fast, the execution was undeniable and the finishes were among the best in the league this season. The NFL built an empire off games exactly like those in Pittsburgh and New England on Sunday.
Cris Collinsworth, who called the Patriots-Seahawks game for NBC, summed up the night perfectly.
Two great teams after the half way point in the season starting to put it together..
Professional football at its finest tonight.
— Cris Collinsworth (@CollinsworthPFF) November 14, 2016
“Professional football at its finest tonight,” Collinsworth said.
The same could be said to describe Cowboys-Steelers.
For six hours on Sunday night, the NFL was fun again.
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