Prior to 2012, the last time there was an NFL tie was in 2008 with the Philadelphia Eagles and the Cincinnati Bengals. Since then, there have been seven that have become ties. The most recent being this past Sunday with the Green Bay Packers and the Minnesota Vikings. It wasn't their first rodeo together since they experienced it in 2013. Is it really that big of a problem? I don't think so.
If anything, it's just pure, dumb luck with this one and the game with the Cleveland Browns and Pittsburgh Steelers. People probably said the same thing a couple years ago when the Bengals and Washington Redskins tied when the week before that was the Arizona Cardinals and the Seattle Seahawks. It happens. There isn't a simple explanation for why these happen. I kind of agree that the shortened time could lead to more ties, but it gives them an extra incentive to try for that touchdown rather than go for the field goal.
It's not like these teams are not giving up. Look at all the missed field goals. There's a reason why Minnesota cut their kicker and decided to sign Dan Bailey, one of the most accurate kickers. Being in a dome will help him greatly as their kicking game in the franchise's tenure has cost them in games that mattered. Tangent aside, teams are doing whatever is necessary. More than likely we're not going to see another tie. If it does happen again, we'll see what is in store from fans and critics.
Ties are not disappearing anytime soon, but it's not going to wind up being five or six ties a year like it was before overtime rules came into play during the mid 70s.
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