Generally, no they aren’t. However, they are almost always better than an incompletion (unless they are for negative yardage–duh). For one, field position; second, you get a shorter FG, or a possible long FGA instead of a sure punt; third, you end up in short yardage and go for it; fourth, you generally keep the clock running. Let’s face it, we have all seen the checkdown where the RB makes somebody miss and ends up with a first down he had no business getting. (On the other hand, we have also seen the 8 yd completion on a hook route on 3rd & 9 and wanted to scream at the WR/TE, too.)

What happened in 1997? The impact of free agency and the salary cap for the last couple of years was taking effect.