21 Major takeaways from the 2020 NFL season so far

3. COVID-19 has been a pain in the NFL’s butt

I guess it could always be worse, and while I’m certainly thankful we have any football at all (more on that in a minute), let’s face it: Everyone has been frustrated about COVID-19 this season. It’s impossible to write about the season without mentioning the pandemic. Between confusing game postponements and teams with no quarterbacks, this has been a very strange NFL season.

People will always have opinions on what should or shouldn’t be done. I’m not here to get into that. I’m simply reflecting on all that’s transpired. Whatever your opinion is on how the NFL’s handled the pandemic, we can all hopefully look forward to a normal 2021 season.

2. The overtime rules still stink

This is nothing new, I just had to slip it in somehow. The NFL overtime rules are an atrocity. No professional football game — or any sports game — should be decided by a coin flip. I get why some people support this rule because if a team deserves a win, shouldn’t they be able to stop the other team on defense? But I don’t buy it. Remember, we had a tie! The Eagles and Bengals played to a stalemate in Week 3, which is also how their meeting in 2008 ended.

This is the NFL, not a corporate business meeting; we don’t need ties! Why can’t the NFL just adopt college football’s amazing overtime rules? Not only will it provide for more action, but college football overtimes tend to be quicker than NFL overtimes. It’s fairer and it’s more fun. Isn’t that what football should at least be?

1. Football is more than fun

Again, I’m not here to argue about COVID-19 guidelines or whether the season should’ve been played. I’m just so appreciative that amidst all the chaos and uncertainty, there is something to bring us together. Whether it’s packing into a stadium full of screaming fans or packing into a couch with your best friends on a Sunday, football just makes people happy, pandemic or not. Isn’t that enough?

We can always look at what’s wrong with the game — or even the world — but at the end of the day, it’s just nicer to sit back and enjoy what you have. After all, there’s something to like about almost every situation. Football is no different. Even on the days where your favorite team plays like a junior varsity team, at least you can build hope for the future. Or maybe you’re more focused on who you’re with, or you’re invested in your fantasy team, etc.

Life will bring its frustrations and struggles, but there will always be something to laugh about it. For me, that includes football. And I’m guessing you may feel the same way. So just enjoy it while you have it, in whatever form it may take. You’ll have more fun, trust me.