Should Overtime Rules Be Changed?

January 29th, 2010

From time to time in the offseason, Joe will offer up video on a general NFL subject. Today, the great Mike Florio, the creator, curator and overall guru of ProFootballTalk.com, discusses whther the NFL’s overtime rule should be changed.

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17 Responses to “Should Overtime Rules Be Changed?”

  1. BucFan South Tampa Says:

    Joe,
    The only time I hear this is when Peyton Manning (last year) or Favre (this year) lost games affected by it. All the other times I dont hear any complaints. What that tells me, is the “experts” only care when their fair haired boy loses. I remember the Bucs/Skins playoffs a few years ago. We were in overtime, skins set up for a field goal and we blocked one if not two of them. (we eventually lost-thanks Edell Sheppard) Every team has the opportunity to win. Remember, you play to win the game.
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4zLlIdZikDk

  2. Radio Mushmouth Says:

    yes it should be changed …each team should get at least one chance to touch the ball.

  3. Eric S Says:

    Yes, I do think they should change the rules. Too much importance on a stinking coin flip. I like the rule of both teams having a possession. If that won’t be changed, then have something in place to figure who gets the ball first. Instead of a coin flip, maybe the team with the most yards gets the ball first. You can then go on down the line if there are ties involved. Like least amount of turnovers or third down percentage. I just hate that a coin flip holds that much power.

  4. OAR Says:

    Remember, you play to win the game….right after the coin toss!

  5. The_Buc_Realist Says:

    Joe,
    Fell free to write a column about my idea. The Overtime rule should be, Coin flip to decide who gets the ball, then the first team to score to 6 points. That would have teams going for a touchdown more. or if they use stradegy and try to kick 2 consecutive fieldgoals. This rule change would add drama to the overtime. Also get rid of 3 booth reviews, that just kills the game.

  6. Eric S Says:

    Since OT has been in place, I believe there is only been a few instances where a team elected to kick off. It’s in the single digits. If the coin flip is not a big deal, then why aren’t more teams electing to kick off then? Because the coin flip is a big deal. I don’t see how it would be a big deal to change it to at least one possession for each team and then reverting to sudden death rules. A stinking coin flip!!

  7. Joe Says:

    Nice idea The_Buc_Realist but I heard Peter King talk at length about this issue this morning and he said the NFL doesn’t want gimmicks for overtime so your idea likely won’t fly.

    It seems the best, “less gimmicky” plan would be both teams get a possession and if it’s still tied after both teams have a possession, it goes sudden death.

  8. OAR Says:

    What about if they don’t flip the coin again at the start of OT? What if they just continued to alternate from the first coin toss/beginning of game. In other words, say team A wins coin toss a start of game and elects to receive, then at the half team A is going to be kicking to team B, then if OT happens it goes back to team A recieving again or vice-a-versa, which ever they elected kicking off or receiving. No second coin toss, teams just continue to rotate at half and OT. Puts more meaning on having that one coin toss.

  9. Joe Says:

    OAR:

    That potentially could be horrible. Under those rules, Joe could just see some numbnut coach punt the ball with time running out in regulation instead of trying to win the game with a long field goal.

  10. OAR Says:

    Some coaches do that now, only hoping they get the toss in OT. To me it would make that team want to hit a field goal if they knew they weren’t getting the kick-off in OT, but I guess it would go the other way too. Oh well, it was just a brain fart anyways.

  11. Joe Says:

    Some coaches do that now, only hoping they get the toss in OT.

    Those clowns should be penalized 15 yards for crap like that and forced to kickoff to start overtime on their own-20.

    Joe can understand if you have the ball deep in your own territory when time is running out but if the ball is within a 60-yard field goal shot and a coach punts instead of trying a long field goal or a Hail Mary, that SOB should be fired on the spot.

    That’s gutless football.

  12. OAR Says:

    Joe, Amen to that.

  13. Pruritis Ani Says:

    It appears (and I don’t have the stats to back it up) as everyone who posted indicated, that the outcome is directly related to the coin toss. Typically the team that gets the ball first…wins. And much too often the win is determined by a field goal. Hypothetically, you could run 1 play, with a PI penalty way downfield..set up for a field goal and win the game. Kind of a sorry way to win a football game after going the distance into overtime, but it happens.

    I say play 1 qtr of football. Either there will be clear winner or end in a tie.

  14. bucfanlostiniowa Says:

    Fieldgoals should be eliminated in OT first team to score touchdown wins no cheapshot field goal make the team earn the win by driving the field! PROBLEM SOLVED!

  15. BigMacAttack Says:

    I like the way they play OT in College. It really is about as fair as you can get. It is also a tested formula with stats to back it up.

    As for the SorryassSaints vs Vikings, I don’t think it matters which team won because the Colts would/will beat either in Miami. Peyton Manning is the $h!t, and Sean Payton and his (late hitting & holding on every play) bunch of cheaters or do anything else to win scumbags, will join the long list of bridesmaids next Sunday. The Colts defense is highly under-rated and the Saints will get stomped by the Best of the Best.

  16. Crothcity McGee Says:

    Just continue the 4th quarter until someone wins. This way the ebb and flow of the game that brought it to a tie simply continues until a team scores. No overtime, no coin flip. 0:00 on the clock until a team puts points on the board.

  17. JOSH P Says:

    i like the both teams get a possesion and the no FG rule. i think those would be a complete success.

    but the saints/vikings game is probably the worse game to look at when saying this is why we need a new OT rule. when the Vikings turned the ball over 6 times they lost their right to bitch about having a possesion in OT. Which in all honesty most game go to OT because one team had a huge brain fart during part of the game which caused it to go to OT.

    gotta go just lost the coin flip playing russian rullet!! i hope i get a chance to go!!!