League could change postseason overtime format Associated Press INDIANAPOLIS -- An NFL spokesman says the league could change its overtime format for playoff games at a meeting next month. Greg Aiello said Satuday that under the new format, both teams would get the ball at least once unless the first team to get the ball scores a touchdown. 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. Under the current rules, the first team to score wins. The competition committee will discuss the new concept with teams and players at league meetings March 21-24 in Orlando, Fla., when it could come to a vote. At least two thirds of the teams would need to agree to the changes for new rules to be adopted. Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press http://www.nfl.com/news/story?id=09000d5d816a29f8&template=with-video-with-comments&confirm=true
I still believe that OT should be similar to college in that you each get a possesion. But incorporate all 3 phases. It starts with a kickoff and if the opening team scores, then they have to kick it off and play defense to beat the other team. If neither team scores on their first possesion, then first to score wins. If on the opening possesion the defense scores the game ends.
That plan would be a step in the right direction as far as appeasing fans who dislike the current NFL overtime system. I hate the college football overtime system. I wish the NFL would scrap regular season overtime. For the playoffs, I would be okay with any of these formats: simple sudden death that we have now first team to six points the format discussed in the AP article in the opening post I love looking at old standings and seeing stuff like this- 1970 AFC Western Division OAK 8-4-2 KCC 7-5-2 SDC 5-6-3 DEN 5-8-1 As big a football fan as I am, there is a point where enough is enough. Three hours is plenty of action. I hate it when I am watching a 1:00 game, it goes into overtime, ends at 4:45, and I miss the entire first quarter of a 4:05 or 4:15 game which I wanted to watch. And I'm just a viewer. Most players from what I've heard through the years (going as far back as Jim Kelly on the Oprah show in 1987 up until Donovan McNabb after the PHI-CIN tie in 2008) hate regular season overtime games. Just end the games after four quarters. It would put some fun strategy back into the mix for regular season action. Down 17-14 with 4th and 2 at the 5-yard line with 15 seconds left and one timeout? Under the current NFL rules, the trailing team would almost always kick a field goal and get ready for overtime in such a scenario. Wipe out regular season overtime and what would that trailing team do? Kick the field goal to get a tie or try to pick up the first down and then take one or two shots at the end zone?
i like it, instead of getting 30 yards on the kickoff then only having to move the ball 40 yds or so for a long FG to end the game they have to go all the way to endzone. nice compromise
I like the idea of no overtime and just a tie. that would add new dimensions to the regulation schemes and you'd see teams trying to score faster... I hate the idea of old school run first offenses being a dying breed, and that concept would annhilate it completely. But bigger picture, the masses would love it.
I'm happy enough they decided to do SOMETHING about it. With all respect to kickers, the current/old system isn't the classiest. Let's hope they look at the regular season soon
I completely agree. I think the first to 6 points would be the best option. I like the current system well enough though, and the one mentioned in the article would be acceptable. Scrapping regular season OT altogether would be intriguing, but that's not likely to happen. Whatever the case, sudden death in OT is an absolute necessity. The college system is NOT better than the NFL. Teams shouldn't be given a million second chances.. if neither can wrap up the game in 4 quarters of play, then neither team really deserves to win. Plus most overtime games are snooze-fests.
If enough players and coaches bitch about regular season overtime, maybe we could see a switch back to no regular season overtime games in the future. Let's hope. Totally agree with you about college football. Their overtime system is dreadful. It's even worse when we consider that, on average, regulation college games take longer to play than NFL games.
I also have always preferred ties during the regular season as opposed to trying to force a winner. If they're even after 60, they were evenly matched that day and neither team gets the win. Seems fair.
It would be a huge mistake to change the current OT system. Sudden death is the best way to go. If people have a problem with the coin flip, then whoever receives the KO at the beginning of the game receives the KO in OT. This would eliminate the bitching and complaining about the coin flip at the beginning of OT. The college system sucks. Why don't we just give them both a win, a big hug and all sing "Kumbaya" while holding hands at midfield? This is the NFL, did all of the men leave or something? Whew, rant over. Now I feel better......
I heard an idea somewhere that I liked...you play first one to score 6 points in OT wins...so a TD or 2 FGs win it. I think it's kind of cheap when a team only needs like 30-40 yards to win a game with a FG.
forces teams to keep playing football the way it is played during regulation. in regulation teams are trying to get a touchdown unless the clock is working against them. in overtime the goal is no longer to score a touchdown. the goal is to get near the red zone and put the ball in the middle of the field.
the only thing i dont really like about it is that now there will be different rules from reg season to postseason, if your gonna change it make it uniform
Absolutely...It really makes me wonder how the fuk these guys made their money with some of the dumbest decisions being made. 1 Possession for each team then it becomes sudden death... is that so damn difficult!!!??? It's as if they are trying to be smart and add all this BS in it, then when it fails they say Oh...it doesn't work so we'll go back to the old way. Fukin IDIOTS!
I'm not really sure what the problem is with the current OT rules. The team that wins the coin toss only wins about 50% of the time. Seams pretty fair to both teams. I hate the idea of ties. Watching 60 min of football and then leaving the stadium without a winner is like kissing your sister. Having 2 different rules for reg season and playoffs is just retarted.
