Wow, talking about the lowest scoring NFL game ever is like something out of a horror movie. It happened on November 12th, 1939 in a game between the Philadelphia Eagles and the New York Giants, although the game was originally a tie until a late extra point was added which gave the Giants the win 2-0. It was a slow, boring game from the start, with only three combined first downs in the first half. The Giants managed only a single first down in the second half, while the Eagles squandered their opportunities to score, with one of their touchdowns being called back on a penalty.
The major contributing factor to the scoreless game was a combination of strong defense from both teams, sloppy play on offense, and a series of turnovers that kept the score stagnant. As a result, the Eagles and the Giants combined for a disastrous total of four turnovers, with neither team managing to score a single point for the entire 60 minutes. In addition to the turnovers, the Giants missed two field goals on the day that could have changed the outcome of the game and sent the fans home happy.
My opinion is that the low scoring nature of the game was due to a lack of offensive creativity from both teams. The Eagles and Giants seemed to rely solely on running the ball and short, conservative passes in order to move the ball down the field. With neither team taking any risks or making any bold plays, the game remained a stalemate until the final minutes.
But, it wasn’t all doom and gloom. While the game was frustrating and boring to watch, it does hold some relevance in NFL history. This is the game that led to the implementation of the two-point conversion and the ten-yard penalty for a touchdown rather than the seven yards needed before. These rule changes were meant to ensure that teams wouldn’t adopt the same conservative strategies as the Eagles and Giants, and that a similar scoreless situation wouldn’t happen again.
This game was also the first time the Eagles had attempted a field goal in nine years. It nearly worked too, as a fourth-quarter attempt sailed wide right by less than a foot. Had it gone the other way, the outcome of the game could have been very different.
It’s incredible to think that in a league as explosive and high-scoring as the NFL, there are games like this that prove that even the best can come up short. This game serves as a great example of what can happen when you try to play it safe, and hopefully, it won’t be the last.
On reflection, for the sake of competitive play, I would have liked to the game end differently. The idea of two of the top teams in the league—in terms of score—not getting any points is completely ridiculous. I’m glad that the NFL August forum changed the rules because of that game because it has provided the limits needed to create variety in the way teams score points.
One of the biggest factors in determining the outcome of this game was the poor offensive showing from both teams. As both teams used a conservative approach, they failed to reach the end-zone, resulting in a scoreless tie. It was only after a very late extra point kick was added that the final score was cemented.
The game can also be looked at in a positive light. Despite the poor offensive output, both teams displayed strong defensive performances, and there were two missed field goals – one by the Giants, and one by the Eagles. If either of these had been successful, the score could have been totally different.
In the modern NFL, the rules are completely different from those in 1939, which provided a very conservative style of play from both teams. Most teams now go for two-point conversions, and some even throw a Hail Mary pass in the dying seconds of the game in order to win. Even though it was an incredibly dull encounter, it has since driven changes to the NFL rulebook – changes which no doubt help to ensure that the most exciting game possible is watched on Sundays.