[ZenGum]

The balls are a new model. They are glued rather than stitched, so are more nearly perfectly round, and so have been covered in little ridges for aerodynamic effects.
1. A new ball should not be adopted just at the start of the biggest tournament. Give the players time to get to know it. You get better football games.
2. The ball is too aerodynamic - it is fast and curves, which is good, but it swerves and dips randomly, which is bad. It reduces the benefit of being the most skillful, and gives more advantage to the lucky.
Bah.