The NFL continually alters and adjusts its rule book, and over the past couple of decades, the majority of those tweaks-from a looser definition of what constitutes pass interference to an emphasis on protecting the quarterback-have stimulated scoring. Here are 10 of the most surprising plot twists from the 2017 season. And as it turned out, plenty of things got weird from a football point of view, too.

The off-field story lines often overshadowed the on-field product: Colin Kaepernick filed a grievance against the league alleging collusion player protests against police brutality expanded the president called any player that kneels during the national anthem a “son of a bitch” the vice president staged a dramatic walk-out of a game ratings were all over the place Ezekiel Elliott was suspended, then unsuspended, then re-suspended about 10 times and the question of the league’s long-term viability as the effects of CTE and head injuries become more clear hung over every game.īut the show went on: There were games to be played, touchdowns to be scored, sacks to be had, and plays to be Bortles’d. As we wait in nervous anticipation of the NFL season’s big finale between the Eagles and Patriots, it’s time to reflect on what was a unique and at times bizarre year of football.

Nfl live best games of 2017