Could a CFL team beat an NFL team?
While not a worldwide sport just yet, American Football ambassadors have been pushing around the idea of playing in Europe. With the former NFL Europe and currently the NFL International Series games played in London (Which is an idea I love. Giving the citizens of Europe small tastes per year of football will eventually get them to enjoy it more and more). American Football has made attempts to make the sport all American's love, and placing it on the global scale. While there is still a way to go, the CFL has placed themselves in a firm 2nd place for the best football leagues in the World. Since 1958, the Canadian Football League has been exciting fans North of the border with spectacular plays and gut wrenching moments. While the CFL and NFL have different rules and call things a bit different than what American fans are use to. The product on the field is no different, and perhaps it's better. Aside from all of this, could a CFL team keep up or even defeat an NFL team?
Well first you have to compare the rule differences and find a side to agree on. The NFL has a 100 yard long field with two 10 yard end zones. The CFL has a 110 yard long field with two 20 yard end zones. Well right away we can see the length of the field is longer, but it's also wider as the NFL is 53.3 yards wide all the while the CFL is 65 yards wide. But wait, you may ask. Wouldn't a bigger field mean more players since there's more space to cover? Yes, the CFL uses 12 players instead of 11 which brings up another difference. This surely ends any big differences correct? Not exactly, in the CFL the phrase "Going for it on 4th down!" Simply doesn't exist, because there is no 4th down. The CFL plays 3 downs, if you would like to imagine this. Simply watch an NFL game and stop the drive after 2nd down, because you didn't get 10 yards, you then punt the ball away. There are some scoring differences, such as kicking teams getting a point for placing the ball into the end zone (what the NFL would call a touch back) which is why if you tune into a CFL game you'll occasionally see a team with 1 point. There are other rule differences and general differences such as a the 3 minute warning compared to the 2 minute warning. But we're not going to worry about those too much.
Now for the teams. Currently, the best team in the CFL is the Saskatchewan Roughriders who stand at 5-0, their starting running back Kory Sheets has eclipsed 100 yards rushing every game thus far. They also have a dual threat QB in Darian Durant and their defense has held teams to an average of 17.4 points a game while their electric offense has posted at least 32 points a game so far in every game this season and if you average it out, you get an average of 36.6 point per game which would currently place them first in the NFL the past 5 seasons (the New England Patriots averaged 36.8 in 2007.) Even better, their low so far--32 points--was done with their back-up QB. But what team would represent the NFL? Obviously not any of the power teams, that would be unfair. In reality, the phrase "Any given Sunday" can be used here. The CFL has imported players (usually from America) which means these players are familiar with the American rules. So with all that being said, it really doesn't matter who represents the NFL because personally I think the game will be competitive and the reason why is because of the rule differences.
The rule differences help the CFL teams greatly and can only hurt NFL teams. Think about it. Play 3 downs instead of 4 and advantage to the CFL and if you switch to American rules, the CFL teams get an extra down. Another is the style of play, games in the CFL are played more wide open, and quicker since the 3 down rule. It's not that the NFL is use to fast paced games, but the CFL rules basically only permit a fast paced game. Players hit harder too, how hard? Just ask Jason French in this bone crunching hit. Regardless, of the comparisons. The NFL and CFL are two totally different leagues, with two different sets of rules. And as long as the action keeps fans on edge and excited. That's all that matters.
Well first you have to compare the rule differences and find a side to agree on. The NFL has a 100 yard long field with two 10 yard end zones. The CFL has a 110 yard long field with two 20 yard end zones. Well right away we can see the length of the field is longer, but it's also wider as the NFL is 53.3 yards wide all the while the CFL is 65 yards wide. But wait, you may ask. Wouldn't a bigger field mean more players since there's more space to cover? Yes, the CFL uses 12 players instead of 11 which brings up another difference. This surely ends any big differences correct? Not exactly, in the CFL the phrase "Going for it on 4th down!" Simply doesn't exist, because there is no 4th down. The CFL plays 3 downs, if you would like to imagine this. Simply watch an NFL game and stop the drive after 2nd down, because you didn't get 10 yards, you then punt the ball away. There are some scoring differences, such as kicking teams getting a point for placing the ball into the end zone (what the NFL would call a touch back) which is why if you tune into a CFL game you'll occasionally see a team with 1 point. There are other rule differences and general differences such as a the 3 minute warning compared to the 2 minute warning. But we're not going to worry about those too much.
Now for the teams. Currently, the best team in the CFL is the Saskatchewan Roughriders who stand at 5-0, their starting running back Kory Sheets has eclipsed 100 yards rushing every game thus far. They also have a dual threat QB in Darian Durant and their defense has held teams to an average of 17.4 points a game while their electric offense has posted at least 32 points a game so far in every game this season and if you average it out, you get an average of 36.6 point per game which would currently place them first in the NFL the past 5 seasons (the New England Patriots averaged 36.8 in 2007.) Even better, their low so far--32 points--was done with their back-up QB. But what team would represent the NFL? Obviously not any of the power teams, that would be unfair. In reality, the phrase "Any given Sunday" can be used here. The CFL has imported players (usually from America) which means these players are familiar with the American rules. So with all that being said, it really doesn't matter who represents the NFL because personally I think the game will be competitive and the reason why is because of the rule differences.
The rule differences help the CFL teams greatly and can only hurt NFL teams. Think about it. Play 3 downs instead of 4 and advantage to the CFL and if you switch to American rules, the CFL teams get an extra down. Another is the style of play, games in the CFL are played more wide open, and quicker since the 3 down rule. It's not that the NFL is use to fast paced games, but the CFL rules basically only permit a fast paced game. Players hit harder too, how hard? Just ask Jason French in this bone crunching hit. Regardless, of the comparisons. The NFL and CFL are two totally different leagues, with two different sets of rules. And as long as the action keeps fans on edge and excited. That's all that matters.
