November 7,1943: Giants 0, Lions 0

The New York Giants and the Detroit Lions will forever be connected in NFL history.

On November 7, 1943 the New York Giants traveled to Detroit to take on the Lions. The Giants were 2-2 while the Lions were 3-4. The game itself was a defensive battle,and the offenses were almost non-existent combining for no points in the game.

There was a total of 214 yards in the game between both teams, with Detroit out gaining the Giants 130 yards to 84 yards. Detroit did rush for 102 yards and six first downs, while the Giants rushed for 81 yards and just three first downs.

The Giants would go onto win four of their next five games and finish the regular season 6-3-1 and finished first in the NFL East Division. The Giants would be shutout in the first round by the Washington Redskins 28-0. The Lions would not win another game in 1943 and finished with a 3-6-1 record, good enough for third in the NFL West Division.

Ever since this game, there has never been another scoreless tie in the NFL, and there will never be another scoreless tie. There have been a number of 3-0 games since the 1943 game, including a Monday night game in 2007 between the Steelers and the Dolphins, but that game was played in extreme conditions where the footing was terrible and the players were lucky to be able to run a route.

The evolution of the game of football will most likely prevent us from seeing another scoreless tie in the NFL. The offense's have become so much more advanced, and the introduction of domes prevents a lot of teams in bad weather areas to always play their home games in a friendly environment.

Better late than never for the Zebras

It is official, the NFL and NFLRA have agreed on an eight year deal, and will bring the regular referees back to the field this week. After all of the controversy regarding the replacement referees and their ability to officiate a game, fans and players can rest easy this week knowing they will have the regular referees wearing the black and white stripes this week.

Last Monday nights Hail Mary debacle in Seattle seemed to be the last straw for the replacement refs, and put the NFL on the hot seat to get the normal refs back onto the field. As much as we berated the replacement refs for their poor officiating, we also owe them a thank you for giving us the first three weeks of the season, no matter how ugly it looked at times.

With the regular refs back, players and coaches now have to tone down their aggression towards the men in stripes. The replacement refs did not do an efficient job controlling the game, and the players and coaches knew that. The players and coaches crossed the line on occasion and took an unprofessional approach toward the refs, but now with the regular refs returning, there is no room for any behavior that we saw in the first three weeks.

As for the New York Giants, they are excited the refs got back just in time for their Sunday night game in Philadelphia. There have been a number of roughing the passer calls made by the replacement refs that were brought into question, look at the final drive this past Monday night that set up the final Hail Mary. The Giants know Michael Vick is a running quarterback, and the way to get to a quarterback like Vick? Hit him hard and hit him often, and do it legally of course.

So fans, take a deep breathe, make sure your fantasy team is set for week four, and get ready for some football, without the replacement refs. Now instead of complaining about replacement refs calls, fans can complain about the refs they have known and "loved" for so many seasons.