Kicking It Up a Notch: The NFL's Crossbar Conundrum

The evolution of field goals in the NFL is a tale of increasing accuracy and distance. Fifty years ago, the league moved the goalposts from the goal line to the back of the end zone, adding 10 yards to every field goal attempt. Today, it's not uncommon to see kickers successfully attempting 50-yard field goals with ease. This raises an intriguing question: Will the NFL make it harder for kickers to convert field goals? One solution could be to raise the crossbar, a move that would undoubtedly make field goals more challenging. Another option would be to narrow the gap between the uprights, making it harder for kickers to split the goalposts. By doing so, the NFL could encourage teams to be more strategic with their kicking decisions, opting to go for it on fourth down or punt the ball away in certain situations. But why should the league care about making field goals more difficult? The answer lies in the excitement factor. When kickers consistently make long field goals, each attempt becomes less thrilling, as the outcome is often predetermined. By introducing more uncertainty into the equation, the NFL could breathe new life into an otherwise mundane aspect of the game.