Thanks, NFL: Americans Return to Greatest Game, Post-Lockdown, Post Kaepernick

What a season! What a postseason! Just a couple of years ago, America’s sport seemed to mirror or even magnify national divisions over race, policing, and patriotism. Now there is hardly any public-facing institution in the country that is more unifying. Two-fifths of the top 100 most-watched broadcasts of 2021 were NFL games — and the winter of 2022 brought the most exciting slate of playoff contests in NFL history, if not sports history.

The season ended with seven consecutive games, including the Super Bowl, decided either in overtime or by 3 points. The Cincinnati Bengals came back from a 21–3 halftime deficit to top the Kansas City Chiefs in overtime and tied the Indianapolis Colts’ record for the greatest postseason comeback in league history. The same day, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers nearly pulled off an even greater feat, storming back from a 27–3 third-quarter deficit to tie things up with the Los Angeles Rams with 42 seconds left, only to be beaten by the heroic last-minute efforts of quarterback Matthew Stafford and wide receiver Cooper Kupp.

About the Author

Kyle Smith

Kyle Smith is the film critic for the Wall Street Journal.

Featured Tags

What a season! What a postseason! Just a couple of years ago, America’s sport seemed to mirror or even magnify national divisions over race, policing, and patriotism. Now there is hardly any public-facing institution in the country that is more unifying. Two-fifths of the top 100 most-watched broadcasts of 2021 were NFL games — and the winter of 2022 brought the most exciting slate of playoff contests in NFL history, if not sports history.

The season ended with seven consecutive games, including the Super Bowl, decided either in overtime or by 3 points. The Cincinnati Bengals came back from a 21–3 halftime deficit to top the Kansas City Chiefs in overtime and tied the Indianapolis Colts’ record for the greatest postseason comeback in league history. The same day, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers nearly pulled off an even greater feat, storming back from a 27–3 third-quarter deficit to tie things up with the Los Angeles Rams with 42 seconds left, only to be beaten by the heroic last-minute efforts of quarterback Matthew Stafford and wide receiver Cooper Kupp.