Running up the score
by 
Over the past couple weeks the Patriots have taken heat from some of the media and many fans for what is being perceived as running up the score. It got me to thinking about how it is viewed when playing head-to-head video games. In many online communities running up the score is viewed as being cheap and unsportsmanlike. However there are many people out there who will keep playing and trying to score even with an insurmountable lead.
When it comes to the Patriots, I don’t have a problem with what they’re doing. They shouldn’t be expected to just stop playing because the other team is over-matched and has no answer for them. I don’t believe it is done over concern that the Dolphins or Redskins could actually have mounted a comeback (clearly they couldn’t have) but the idea that they should just give in while the other team continues to play seems odd to me.
In the end it is just one game, the score doesn’t change that it is only one win/loss, and many teams have experienced blowouts and continued on to have successful seasons. The Patriots risk injury to critical players by leaving them out longer than necessary and it could come back to bite them. So it doesn’t bother me what they’ve done in these crushing victories so far this season.
When it comes to gaming it’s interesting to see the divide between those who would follow the Patriots example and those who would stop trying to score and gladly give the ball back to the other team when the right situations presented themselves.
Play against random people online and more likely than not it becomes no holds barred. Play against your buddies and there may be bragging rights involved with how many points the victory was by. But play against someone in an online community such as a forum environment and you’ll be shunned for not kneeling on the ball or scoring unnecessarily. You may even see people kicked out of leagues for doing so as there are many that have rules against it and are very sensitive about the subject.
I have been on the wrong side of some blowout games. A few years ago it would bother me when someone continued to pile on, but now I view it differently. I wouldn’t go as far as to say it’s insulting, however when the other team shows mercy it implies that they feel you can’t stop them and they don’t want to make you look or feel worse than you already do. I’d rather continue to play on and get some practice in, try some new things and hopefully figure out what went wrong. It is a game after all. I don’t want to sit around for 20 minutes or however long as the clock is run out. How is that fun? That to me is a complete waste of time.
Something to consider is how the losing teams contribute to the cause. The tendency when behind is to throw caution to the wind. So you’ll see people who are out of the game making desperation throws or going for it on 4th downs. That leads to turnovers via INT or on downs and the game being extended because the clock stops on incomplete passes. That then puts the team that is ahead in a situation where they can score even more easily or more often.
When you look at the NFL the talent is relatively well balanced. Any team can beat any other on a given day (although it doesn’t look that way with the Patriots this year). But with video games there is a much bigger discrepancy between the great players and the poor ones.
I feel you’re less likely to see miraculous comebacks in a video game than in the NFL. If someone is up by 30, they usually are there for a reason and the team that is behind isn’t going to flip everything around all of the sudden. The NFL has more of an “anything can happen” element to it than the video games do. So in that regard it is more understandable that someone may feel running up the score is inappropriate in a video game match-up.
So what do you think? Should there be some sort of mercy shown by other players in head-to-head video games? Or do you want the game to be played out to completion score be damned?
October 29, 2007 at 9:27 am
The pats are definetly running up the score. Did you see how long their starters stayed in the game? And Coach Belicheat, after the game, was very mum on the situation. Washhington was terrible that game but to keep your starters in that long and score even more points is ridiculous.
As for video games, of course people are going to try to run up the score…..it makes their stats look good. No one hands out a mercy or friendly quit anymore because they’re bent on making their profile look killer.
October 29, 2007 at 10:01 am
Sorry that this is off-subject, but when is the update to Roster Update #4 due out? Is it out already?
P.S., as much as I hate the Patriots, they are the class of the league right now and they really are that good. Hindsight is 20/20, so we can armchair QB this forever.
In video games, there is a point where time remaining and score reach a threshold. For instance, if i’m up 31 with 5:00 to go in the game, I will indeed begin running the ball and just use the “cover the ball” running style instead of juking, hurdling, etc. for extra yardage. I’ll try safer pass plays to ensure 1st downs, but I won’t necessarily try to embarrass someone.
October 29, 2007 at 10:20 am
I think it all lies in how competetive you are. The Patriots to me are as competetive as anyone and want to show the league no matter what we are going to destroy you. It instills fear and helps them as a team gain an edge strategically. Im not sure in any given circumstance that I would run up the score, I for one dont like making enemies all over the place. I will tell you though, Im a bit scared because people are overshadowing the fact that the patriots arent at full strength yet this season. Harrison is just getting back into game shape from his suspension, Samuel is starting to get his wind back from sitting all camp, Maroney has been banged up, and I think the most important add will be getting Richard Semore from the pup list omg this team will kill everything this year, and if Moss resigns, next years too. I really dont expect the Patriots to score anything lower that 40 points the rest of the season and the post season.
October 29, 2007 at 10:23 am
Pasta,
I am disappointed in your attitude towards this. Its called sportsmanship. Just because it’s the NFL are we to expect no sportsmanship. Other great coaches, Walsh, Gibbs, Parcells didnt run up the score. They may have won big but they pulled starters, ran the ball, and kneeled on 4th down. The Pats are only worried about the records that other players and teams could have had if they played and threw TD’s late in the fourth up by 41. Bel-cheat is classless and so are the Pats. By the way the mic’s went out again yesterday…go figure!
October 29, 2007 at 11:00 am
it’s very classless in the NFL but in Video Games you have to go for the jugular just because of bragging rights
October 29, 2007 at 11:29 am
Belichek is going for the throat because of the whole spying thing… I dont blame him, but the bullseye has been placed on the Pats… They definitely arent americas team anymore…
October 29, 2007 at 11:39 am
I saw something in a high school game this weekend that was similar. Last year, Tennessee Temple was involved in a recruiting controversy (you can’t do that in TN). They had to forfeit their games from last year, including a playoff win over South Pittsburg that may well have cost the team a state championship and one of its players the chance to play division IA (FBS, excuse me) football. It was 62-6 at the end of the game, and the clock ran the entire second half because of the “slaughter rule.” It was 49-6 at the half, and the coach definitely ran them into the ground to prove a point. I generally dislike running the score up, and even have some misgivings here (half the team was just kids who came out so the school could field a squad), but I understood why the coach wanted to make a point, and frankly, they were running up the middle for 50-yard touchdowns, so I’m not sure they COULD have killed the clock.
October 29, 2007 at 1:55 pm
I don’t even care for the Patriots but to see them blow the Redskins out even while having the game completely in hand is good business imo.
You risk career ending injuries every single down of every single game. Why not play the game to its fullest and get everything out of your players before their time is up.
The Patriots are relentless cut throat pirates of the NFL, they are raping and destroying everything in front of them because they are coached well and they have the talented players to back it up. I respect that.
They have been better than 8 other teams so far this season by a large margin. If you are playing the Patriots this season then you know you have to be on your game 110%.
Simply put the Redskins need to learn how to f****** play!
October 29, 2007 at 5:42 pm
I’AM CLASSLESS!
October 29, 2007 at 6:19 pm
The shortest book ever written:
“Honor, integrity, and playing by the rules” – by Bill Belichek; with an excerpt from Barry Bonds.
October 29, 2007 at 6:52 pm
Jon Runyan was on 610 wip tonight. Jon stated that “Karma will catch up to them. In this league Bounty’s do happen and it’s real. I wouldn’t be surprised if someone puts a bounty on Brady. Somone might say Hey, Ill pay you $20,000 to break his leg.”
I have a feeling Moss or Brady won’t make it the entire season. You know they do have the Ravens on there schedule.
October 29, 2007 at 6:56 pm
chiahatesyou said: “You risk career ending injuries every single down of every single game. ”
Which is exactly why you take your players out before they get a career ending injury in garbage time or a bounty placed on there head.
Like I said before. I have a feeling that Brady or Moss won’t complete the season.
October 29, 2007 at 8:07 pm
Is it possible that Belicheat just wants his players to stay sharp? I mean they are tied with the Colts for the top spot in the AFC and they just happen to play them this week. I don’t know how many times over the years I’ve seen supposedly unbeatable teams pull their starters early as they crush weak opposition week after week, only to eventually run into a tough team and be unprepared for a four quarters fight. This week is the AFC Championship preview, and the winner has the inside track for home field throughout the playoffs. I personally don’t mind seeing the starters play late into the fourth quarter. It’s risky, but I think it prepares them better for the playoffs.
October 30, 2007 at 6:47 am
Who cares if the Pats run up the score? Aren’t those 11 guys on the other side of the ball getting paid a king’s ransom to stop them? What should the Pats do when they are winning by 30? Punt every 3rd down just so it is ‘fair? Reality check people this is not t-ball, no one is on the sideline patting the Skins on the back telling them ‘At least you tried your best’. I hate this crap about ’sportsmanship’ leave that crap in your gym classes this is freaking pro football.
October 30, 2007 at 5:17 pm
You start letting unsportsmanship run rampant in the pros, you’ll see it at lower levels soon enough. Will you think it’s a problem then? Good luck turning that ship around. Seriously, just because these guys are making a lot of money to play doesn’t mean we should just throw sportsmanship out the window. That’s simply ridiculous.
Not only is what the Patriots are doing unsportsmanlike, but it’s stupid. Leaving Brady and Moss in during the 4th to run up the score? Brady is luck he still has kneecaps. Karma will catchup with these bitches soon enough.
October 30, 2007 at 5:42 pm
If teams dont want to be blown out control the clock run the ball down the clock. If they dont the Pats will score the ‘f-you’ TDs every single time. The Patriots I think have made it clear what anyone in the league thinks is fair and whatnot. Wipe your tears and play better.
October 30, 2007 at 7:30 pm
go pats
October 31, 2007 at 5:33 pm
They aren’t show boating. They aren’t showing anyone up. They are playing hard for four quarters and I applaud them. I’m not even a Patriots fan, but I like the way they play. They look like a team on a mission and as long as you aren’t a fan of the team they are playing, it’s fun to watch.
November 9, 2007 at 12:27 pm
This isn’t anything new for the Patriots so why is suddenly so offensive to everyone? The Rams did it when they were the greatest show on turf, my Packers did it in 96 to teams like the Bucs and Chargers. the defense is paid to stop scoring and they’re paid 3-6 mil a year on average for the starters. These aren’t kids where you have to worry about them anymore, they’re grown men. If you want the other team to quit playing, then take your own starters out of the game. I didn’t see the Skins taking Portis or Campbell out, so why should the Patriots?