For those of us who were actually watching the San Francisco 49ers and St. Louis Rams game yesterday evening, which ended up being most of the country, we had an empty feeling following what was a matchup filled with intrigue, intensity and passion. That empty feeling was something that is usually reserved for EuroLeague Soccer. It even left some dazed and confused. 

A tie? What? Wait, how does that happen? This isn't a 0-0 game between Manchester U and some other European Futbal club. No, this is the National Football League. These games shouldn, nay they can't, end in ties. It makes absolutely no sense. 

How do you think the 49ers and Rams felt after the game? It had to feel like a loss for both teams, two that gave it their all in a rivarly game best suited to represent what is so great about this grand ol' game. A tie! Really? 

St. Louis put it all on the line against a vastly superior 49ers' team. It literally went toe-to-toe with San Francisco on the road and in front of a hostile crowd at Candlestick Park. Steven Jackson proved to the world that he still has that unbridled passion for the game that made him a  Hall of Fame type player in the first place. Chris Long and the Rams' defense drew blood, broke noses, hit the 49ers in the mouth, and nearly came out on top. 

Meanwhile, San Francisco fell down 14-0 and lost Alex Smith in the first half before storming back with an equally passionate mindset. It literally used pure drive and passion to nearly complete a comeback in a game it had absolutely no business winning. Heart of a champion is probably the best term we could use to define the 49ers' performance on Sunday. Play horrible football for the most part, but put yourself in a position to win. 

But a tie. 

This game ended in a 24-24 draw, completely throwing the NFC Playoff race for a loop and leaving millions of people questioning what that empty feeling in their gut was. Now we are going to have to refer to Nate Silver and his 538 blog in order to understand what this TIE means for the horse race that is the NFC postseason. 

In reality, the NFL did it right by abandoning the sudden death overtime rule this season. That being said, they just didn't go far enough. There is absolutely no way that a football game should end in a draw...No way. 

Why not play until the first team scores? Why not just left them play another quarter? What would be so bad about that? I guess they might just be worried about a game lasting all night, maybe even into the wee hours of the moring. However, I don't see anything wrong with that either. You can't tell me it wouldn't have been fun to see the 49ers and Rams play up until midnight. Logistically, of course, that doesn't make much sense. There are concerns about fatigue and injuries, among other things. 

Still, there has to be some happy medium here. Do you really believe that a sudden death overtime game would end up going six or seven hours? I honestly don't envision that happening. 

No, I am not talking about going the route of college football here either. That makes absolutely no sense in the grand scheme of things. Maybe, play up to two overtime quarters. If the game ends in a draw then, fine. It just doesn't add up to see the 49ers at 6-2-1 and the Rams at 3-5-1. 

The fans deserve more. The players deserve more.