If there’s a lesson from Super Bowl LIII, it’s that offense is the name of America’s game.
Only a few months ago–on February 3rd, 2019– Super Bowl LIII took place at Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium. The New England Patriots, led by ageless quarterback Tom Brady, and the Los Angeles Rams, led by young quarterback Jarrod Goff, competed for the Lombardi Trophy.
It was a contrast between sustained success and the new kid on the block.
But there was one, big similarity between these two teams–proficient offense.
So fans anticipated a high-scoring game. What they got was something very different. There wasn’t a lot of scoring in what many of my friends said was the worst Super Bowl they had ever seen.
A record was set as the lowest scoring Super Bowl in history, eclipsing the previous low set in Super Bowl VII. And when the final gun sounded, the Pats had tied the Jets for the fewest TDs scored in any Super Bowl.
Millions tuned into the game, but–as the game progressed–many tuned out. The telecast drew the lowest TV numbers in a decade.
With such anticipation, why did the game become a turnoff to so many fans?
At issue, I think, is America’s contemporary taste for action, which translates a preference for offensive displays. What fans got was a chess match with strategy. When that happens, games typically come down to the end–who has the ball last–and whether that team will score of the defense will prevail.
Even though Super Bowl LIII didn’t turn out as many fans expected, I enjoyed watching the game. It’s the game that draws me, no matter who’s playing and no matter how the game is played. It’s the Super Bowl, after all.
