Proof: If NFL Teams Want to Win, the Player Protests Need to Stop!

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Yesterday was an interesting day in the NFL.

For whatever reason, players, coaches, and even owners decided to “protest” during the national anthem by sitting, kneeling, standing with arms linked, or staying in the locker room altogether.

Started last year by Colin Kaepernick as a stance for social injustice, it seems this league-wide “protest” was not in solidarity for the original purpose, but instead as a response to President Trump’s tweets leading up to the games on Sunday.

Interestingly enough, Trump’s tweets didn’t affect anyone more than the teams and the NFL themselves. In a swarm of emotion, teams got caught up in how they would respond to Trump, rather than how they would respond to a safety blitz or play-action pass. And, as a result, ratings bombed and teams who should have won, lost!

Here is a recap of Sunday's games:

• 67% of the teams that stayed in the locker room lost.
• 100% of the teams that were heavily-favored and had more kneelers (or other antics) than their opponents, either lost the game or did not cover the spread.
• 81% of the teams who kneeled more than their opponents, lost.
• Of the 19% of the teams who won their game and had more kneelers than their opponent (Packers, Saints, Chiefs), two were heavily favored to win.
• Only 6% of the teams (Saints) that kneeled more than their opponent managed to pull of the upset.

As you can see, in just about every way these protests are counterproductive.

There really is no place for politics in sports. Not like this. It doesn’t help the game, it’s clearly a distraction, it hinders performance, fans don’t want to see it, and it tanks viewership and ratings. Yes, everyone has a right to free speech and peaceful protest, but no one wants to see it at a place of work. That’s what the off-season is for.

Whoever wants to win tonight’s Monday Night Football game between the Cardinals and the Cowboys better focus on the game and not what they are going to do before the opening kickoff.

Below is a breakdown each Sunday game (Source: New York Times) and the result of the teams that felt the need to show “solidarity” during the National Anthem:

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Seahawks @ Titans – both teams stayed in the locker room.

Result: The slightly-favored Titans blew out the Seahawks (the game wasn’t as close as the score).

Steelers @ Bears – The heavily-favored Steelers decided to stay in the locker room (except onelone Ranger), while the Bears stood with arms linked.

Result: Bears pulled off a stunning overtime victory.

Dolphins @ Jets – The underdog Jets had their owner join them in linking arms as they stood for the anthem. Many Dolphins kneeled, while others linked arms. But some also felt the need to wear shirts that said “#IMWITHKAP.

Result: Jets blew out the Dolphins.

Ravens @ Jaguars (in London) – The Ravens were slightly favored but embarrassingly humiliating in London. Several players not only chose to kneel during the American Anthem, but they felt the need to stand for the British Anthem. The Jags also participated in the antic but they had a majority of their team stand with linked arms.

Result: The Ravens were an embarrassment before and during the game as they were annihilated by the Jags in every aspect of the game.

Texans @ Patriots – The Patriots were heavy favorites and they had several players kneel. Brady chose to stand with linked arms, just like the entire Texans team.

Result: The Texans gave the Patriots a run for their money and lost on a last-minute touchdown pass by Brady.

Giants @ Eagles – This was a mixed bag, with Giants players kneeling and standing with linked arms. Eagles players stood with linked arms and some raised their fist.

Result – A tighter game than expected, but the Eagles pull it off on a record-breaking field goal by their rookie kicker.

Chiefs @ Chargers – A few Chargers kneeled while the rest of the team stood with linked arms. The Chiefs kneeled and stood with arms linked, while one player knelt facing the fans instead of the field (not sure what that’s all about…)

Results – Chiefs won decisively against a pretty bad Chargers team.

Falcons @ Lions – Most of the Falcons stood with arms linked, but more Lions chose to kneel. The owners of each team join the teams in solidarity.

Result – A pretty even matchup, but the Lions could punch it in on the one-yard line in the final minute of play and lost by four points.

Browns @ Colts – Both teams had kneelers, but the Browns had significantly more than the Colts. The rest stood with arms linked. The crowd booed both teams as they took their stance.

Result – The Colts controlled the game from start to finish, but the Browns made a late surge. The Colts ended up taking the win.

Broncos @ Bills – The Broncos had over half the team kneel while the Bills had a handful of players take a knee. The rest of the players on each team linked arms.

Result – the Bills beat the Broncos in a surprising blowout.

Saints @ Panthers – The Saints had about 10 members sit during the anthem, while the Panthers had their players stand.

Result – Saints crushed the Panthers in an unexpected upset.

Bucs @ Vikings – No Vikings players knelt during the anthem, but they and their owner did stand with arms linked. The Bucs had two of their star players kneel.

Result – In a game that was expected to be much closer, the Vikings won decidedly.

Bengals @ Packers – Only a few Packers knelt, while the rest stood. All of the Bengals stood, most with arms linked.

Result – In what was expected to be a blowout by the Packers, the Bengals took the game to overtime and lost by a field goal.

Raiders @ Redskins – Nearly all of the Raiders chose to sit or kneel during the anthem. Interestingly, this was started by their offensive line who coincidentally gave up more sacks in the first half of this game than the entire first two games of the season. The Redskins had a few players kneel but most stood with arms linked.

Result – The Redskins won decisively.

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