Sunday’s Steelers vs Lions game ended with the first tie of the 2021 season of 16-16, after both teams failed to score in extra time.
For the Steelers rookie after Najee Harris, it was also the first draw he has ever experienced in his football career. In fact, he admitted in his post-match press conference that he didn’t even know NFL games could end in a draw.
“I didn’t even know you could draw in the NFL,” Harris said, via DK Pittsburgh Sports. “In my mind, I’m sitting on the bench and telling myself I still have a quarter left. I’ve never been tied up in my life before.”
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Harris said he didn’t know the game was over until someone on the Steelers sideline announced “It’s over” when Pat Freiermuth hit the ball with eight seconds left in extra time. Like Harris said, he’s ready to get back on the field to try to win the game in double stoppage time, if that exists in regular-season NFL games. During the regular season, NFL games are limited to one extra time.
Harris wasn’t the only player on Sunday unaware of relationships in the NFL. The Lions Run Again Godwin Igwebuike told the media after the game that he was asking those on the sidelines how many overtime matches there could be. He is said to have maybe two or three.
Lions RB / KR Godwin Igwebuike also does not know. He asked around on the sidelines how many OTs there could be. One said three, another said two. https://t.co/ceS1rPe1QY
– Brian Batko (@BrianBatko) November 14, 2021
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The Lions game was the second overtime game of Harris’ NFL career. The Steelers ultimately defeated the Seahawks, by a score of 23-20, in their OT Week 6 game. No tie, there.
It’s no surprise that Harris hasn’t experienced a draw in his life since NCAA football games resume in first stoppage time unless a touchdown is scored. Penn State and Illinois even played nine times on October 23 this season. In his four-year career at Alabama, Harris has only experienced one game of overtime, which occurred in Alabama’s win over Georgia in the 2017 College Soccer League championship and that game only included extra time. .
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Since 1974 when injury time was established in the NFL, the Steelers vs. Sunday’s Lions led to the 27th draw. Before overtime was introduced in the NFL, there were 256 relationships between 1920-1974.
