Whether you watch the NFL for fantasy football or to laugh at how bad the Dallas Cowboys are, one thing we can all agree on is the NFL’s overtime (OT) rules SUCK!
Oct 10, 2021; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) scrambles from Buffalo Bills defensive end Mario Addison (97) during the first half at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY Sports
Luckily there are a few teams who have the nerve to say, ‘yeah, these rules blow’ and decided to propose a better alternative.
The aforementioned teams are the Colts, the Eagles and the Titans… I never thought I would become appreciative of the Eagles but in this economy there are no surprises.
Lets go over the current OT rules according to the NFL’s rule book:
- At the end of regulation, the referee will toss a coin to determine which team will possess the ball first in overtime. The visiting team captain will call the toss.
- No more than one 10-minute period will follow a three-minute intermission. Each team must possess, or have the opportunity to possess, the ball. The exception: if the team that gets the ball first scores a touchdown on the opening possession.
- Sudden death play — where the game ends on any score (safety, field goal or touchdown) — continues until a winner is determined.
- Each team gets two timeouts.
- If the score is still tied at the end of the overtime period, the result of the game will be recorded as a tie.
First of all, what the hell is a tie? Are we playing soccer or are we playing football? I am a baseball guy and there are no such things as “ties” in baseball (MLB’s extra-inning rule change is another story).
As for the OT rules that are currently in place, let’s face it, if it is your team that loses the coin toss and gives up a first possession touchdown, you feel robbed. If you are on the other side, I am sure you feel enthralled!
But here is where it really felt wrong: the Buffalo Bills losing to the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC Divisional game earlier in 2022. The Buffalo team and fan base did not deserve that. And neither did their foldout tables. That game was unbelievable and I don’t think that Kansas City would have stopped the Buffalo offense if they got the ball back.
The Proposals
As for the Colts and Eagles’ proposed rule-change, they want to allow each team a guaranteed OT possession before moving to sudden death. This would make things a lot better for casual viewers and this promotes a reasonable competitive landscape for OT.
On the other hand the Titans’ proposal would feature a guaranteed possession for each team… UNLESS the first possession team scores a touchdown AND completes a successful two-point conversion. While this does not get rid of the “golden touchdown” rule entirely, it does make it a degenerate’s paradise: take the one-point and trust your defense or go for two and risk being up six measly points.
Bottom Line
It is time for the NFL to consider an OT rule change and luckily there is momentum picking up with the other owners around the league. Keep in mind these are proposals and nothing is concrete quite yet.
Personally, I love the college football OT rule, but not everyone does. How would you handle OT rules if you were the NFL commissioner?
Let me know over on that cesspool they call Twitter!
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