Overtime: It’s Time for a Change

An article by Rob V.    2 Comments

Is it me or do people put way to much thought into the overtime rules in the NFL? We have heard the arguments for years. Should things stay the way they are? Should teams get at least one possession in overtime? Should a team win by at least a touchdown? Should overtime be taken away all together?

The latest proposal from the competition committee is below as reported by ESPN.com…

Under the new format, both teams would get the ball at least once unless the first team to get the ball scores a touchdown, Greg Aiello said. If the first team to get the ball makes a field goal and the other team ties the game, action would continue until a team scores again.

I’m just not sure things have to be so complicated. This whole overtime thing has been over-thought for years now making it harder than it has to be.  I agree that both teams should have a chance to win the game. I never liked the rule that the first team to score wins the game.  I know the percentages show that the team getting the ball first does not win the game. The last two examples were from this past seasons playoffs. Arizona beat Green Bay when Aaron Rogers fumbled on the first possession of overtime. Then New Orleans beat Minnesota when they won the coin toss and drove down for the winning field goal. Minnesota never had a chance to get the ball. I also do not believe that the overtime rules should be different in the playoffs then in the regular season. The rules should be the same for both. Let’s forget about all these wild ideas to change the overtime rule and make it simple.

Here is my idea. For overtime all you need to do is play half a quarter. Put 7:50 on the clock and let the teams play. Both teams will get two time-outs and all reviews would come from the booth.  This seems like a simple solution to a problem that has been around for years. Let the two teams battle it out for half a quarter right down to 00:00.  It seems like a fair solution for all teams.

I know the networks don’t like the idea of games going so long, but it makes sense to make overtime fair for all teams. Sure there will be arguments on this idea just like any other overtime ideas. The overtime rules have been the way they are for way too long now. It’s time for a change.