Fansided

NFL: 5 worst games of the ‘Thursday Night Football’ era

By Bryce Olin

Sep 25, 2014; Landover, MD, USA; Washington Redskins quarterback Kirk Cousins (8) sits on the bench during the fourth quarter against the New York Giants at FedEx Field. The Giants won 45-14. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 25, 2014; Landover, MD, USA; Washington Redskins quarterback Kirk Cousins (8) sits on the bench during the fourth quarter against the New York Giants at FedEx Field. The Giants won 45-14. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports /
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Sep 22, 2014; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler (6) hands off to running back Matt Forte (22) during the third quarter against the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium. Chicago Bears won 27-19. Mandatory Credit: Anthony Gruppuso-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 22, 2014; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler (6) hands off to running back Matt Forte (22) during the third quarter against the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium. Chicago Bears won 27-19. Mandatory Credit: Anthony Gruppuso-USA TODAY Sports /

5. Nov. 18, 2010: Chicago Bears 16 Miami Dolphins 0

Of course, the only shutout in Thursday Night Football history is making the list.

The Bears’ defense led them to a 16-0 victory over the Miami Dolphins in a rather uneventful contest. The Bears kicked three field goals before Matt Forte finally found the endzone late in the third quarter to put the game away for Chicago.

With the way Miami’s offense played on the night, even with a 9-0 lead, the Bears were going to win, but the touchdown in the end added some insurance. As I’ve mentioned multiple times, I love football games like this. It shows what the sport actually would be if there weren’t a couple good quarterbacks who can throw the ball all over the field.

For nearly 44 minutes of game play, only nine total points were scored. Nine. And, people say soccer and baseball are boring.

Games like these from the late 2000s are the exact reason why the NFL is putting restrictions on defense now, so games don’t end 9-7 or 16-0. No one wants to watch that, unless you’re like me and like watching bad football. But, I don’t actually enjoy watching a game like that. I enjoy the hilarity in how bad the product is. In the same way, I would love an NBA game that ended with both teams failing to break 70 points; it’s hilariously bad to me.

Take Jay Cutler in this game, for instance. Cutler is a pretty good quarterback, but in the game, he completed 16-of-25 passes for 156 yards. That’s a garbage game for someone of his talent and caliber, and his team won by 16 points.

I think that says it all.

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