Does NFL represent parity or mediocrity?

By David Mullen

From former NFL commissioner Pete Rozelle to current czar Roger Goodell, the National Football League (NFL) has embraced the concept of team parity. The NFL believes that the basic tenet in achieving parity is a revenue sharing plan and a player salary cap granting — in theory — all teams in any given season a chance to go to the Super Bowl.    

But the last five Super Bowls have been represented by just six teams, with the Kansas City Chiefs making four (winning three) and the San Francisco 49ers on the losing end of two. Only the Los Angeles Rams, Cincinnati Bengals, Philadelphia Eagles and Tampa Bay Buccaneers have also qualified to compete for football’s top prize. 

That means 26 teams since the 1999 season have not made the Super Bowl. At what point does the parity mantra serve as a smokescreen for mediocrity?

The 2024 season began with great hope. On September 5, the Baltimore Ravens and Chiefs opened the season with a game decided on the last play. Replays revealed that Baltimore wide receiver Isaiah Likely’s big toe was out of bounds, negating a game tying touchdown. Nearly 30 million viewers tuned in. The game was the most-watched regular-season opener in NFL history.    

But since the opening game, the NFL has stubbed their toe. In the September 30 Monday Night Football game, the Tennessee Titans, led by Mason Rudolph, defeated the Miami Dolphins, led by Tyler Hundley, 31-12 in Miami. The two teams combine for 206 passing yards. Miami gained 3.3 yards per pass. More people prefer to watch Maya Rudolph impersonate Kamala Harris than Mason Rudolph impersonate an NFL quarterback.      

With roughly the first quarter of the schedule now complete, NFL fans — including those in Dallas — have been treated to four weeks of average football. Of the 32 teams after week four, 13 have 2-2 records including the Dallas Cowboys. Only two teams — Kansas City and the surprising Minnesota Vikings — are 4-0. Only the 0-4 Jacksonville Jaguars are winless, and the Jags are 1-9 since December 4, 2023.

Certainly, injuries play a major factor. In Miami, franchise QB Tua Tagovailoa is out indefinitely after his third concussion. Some are suggesting that he should retire. The 49ers, playing without All-Pro players Christian McCaffery, George Kittle and Deebo Samuel, lost on a last second field goal to the 1-3 Los Angeles Rams.      

The Cowboys are facing a stretch of games without DE DeMarcus Lawrence and All-Pro defender Micah Parsons. CB DaRon Bland is already on the injured reserve list. But even with their defensive stars, the Cowboys’ play has been uneven. Owner Jerry Jones may be “all in” this season, but the Cowboys are “all out” of running game options. The prospect of a Super Bowl run seems implausible. Dallas is not alone.

A healthy Aaron Rodgers was supposed to lift a New York Jets team to the top tier. Maybe the offensive line missed his voice in 2023, as they blamed Rodgers’ cadence for multiple offsides penalties in a touchdown-less loss to the pathetic Denver Broncos.

The Las Vegas Raiders are 2-2. While 2-2 may be even odds in Vegas, the Raiders are a bust. After a home loss to the hapless Carolina Panthers, Raiders head coach Antonio Pierce said: “I think there were definitely some individuals that made business decisions. And we’ll make business decisions going forward as well.”   

The Cincinnati Bengals, a popular Super Bowl pick, started the season 0-3 before beating the Carolina. Despite great play from free agent acquisition Saquon Barkley, the Philadelphia Eagles are 2-2 and many expected much more. San Francisco, Baltimore and the Atlanta Falcons are also an underachieving 2-2. 

Not all has been lost. The Washington Commanders, led by the pinpoint accuracy of rookie QB Jayden Daniels, are a remarkable 3-1. The Minnesota Vikings lost QB Kurt Cousins to free agency, gave the helm to journeyman QB Sam Darnold and are off to a 4-0 start. Darnold, playing on his third team in three seasons, leads the NFL in touchdown passes. Detroit Lions (3-1) QB Jared Goff was a perfect 18 for 18 passing against the previous unbeaten Seattle Seahawks on September 30.  

The Houston Texans are 3-1, despite giving up 15 more points than they have scored this season. The 4-0 Chiefs are embracing the role of two-time defending Super Bowl Champions but face the remainder of the season without star Rashee Rice.

Injured players will return to action. Some surprise teams, like Minnesota and Washington, may continue to win. Good teams, like San Francisco, Baltimore and Philadelphia, will probably find their groove. But so far, the NFL has delivered a middling product under the guise that any team can win on any given Sunday. Or Thursday, Saturday or Monday.

The NFL wants parity of play so fans in every market will remain hopeful. What the NFL has delivered is mediocrity, and even the most faithful fans aren’t buying into the ruse.