How would you change the overtime rules?
 

We saw it in the Colts/Bolts game. The team that wins the coin flip gets to put their offense up against a tired defense and easily win the game. The other teams offense never has a chance to answer.

I've thought about it, looked at how college does it (don't really like that), and decided on a radically new idea: Keep the current NFL format with one major exception. The defense can also win the game if they force a turnover.

Now both sides have a big incentive to play aggresive. The defenses don't have to decide to just play prevent defense and offenses have to think twice before just heaving up the ball and hoping for a lucky pass interference or miracle catch.

What is your idea?

Re: How would you change the overtime rules?
 

[quote=GoSkins!;518923]We saw it in the Colts/Bolts game. The team that wins the coin flip gets to put their offense up against a tired defense and easily win the game. The other teams offense never has a chance to answer.

I've thought about it, looked at how college does it (don't really like that), and decided on a radically new idea: Keep the current NFL format with one major exception. The defense can also win the game if they force a turnover.

Now both sides have a big incentive to play aggresive. The defenses don't have to decide to just play prevent defense and offenses have to think twice before just heaving up the ball and hoping for a lucky pass interference or miracle catch.

What is your idea?[/quote]
Either this makes no sence or I'm not getting it, sorry. Are you saying the defense wins simply by intercepting? Under the current format if the defence intercepts they get the ball back and have a better chance because they usually end up with better field position.

The best way IMO is to just play out the OT till the end. Who ever has the most points wins. This insures both teams have equal play according to there ability and endurance.

Re: How would you change the overtime rules?
 

^ haha i dont know exactly what he means either with the rules but...

Ive always thought that sucked... it all riding on a coin flip... after a hard fought game.
I think "Overtime Rule Change" would be better... but only following the same rules as College.

Re: How would you change the overtime rules?
 

Let both teams have the ball on offense. If the team that wins the toss drives down and scores, the other team should have a chance to match it. If not, game over. So similar to college rules I guess, only none of this starting from the 25 yard line BS. I think that's so dumb.

Although I think Dungy made a good argument for keeping it like it is- he said something along the lines of defense and offense both being equal parts of a football team, and both line up 11 men. If the team that goes on defense first in OT ends up losing, it's becuase their D didn't make the necessary plays. If the team that goes on offense first loses, it's because the O didn't make the necessary plays.

Re: How would you change the overtime rules?
 

All I know is that Donovan McNabb is really glad that the Colts/Chargers game didn't end in a tie.

Re: How would you change the overtime rules?
 

I actually like overtime, and Mike and Mike pointed out that 4 out of the last 5 playoff overtimes, the coin flip winner lost the game. (I don't know if that is true I did not check).
The one change I would make is to say that an overtime game has to be decided by 4 points or more, maybe only in the first 5 minutes, so that a cheap field goal doesn't decide the game. That's what I would like

Re: How would you change the overtime rules?
 

I don't think they would ever go to the college rules because it was screw up all kinds of TD records. We would have QB's throwing 50+ TD's a year constantly. Not to mention the fantasy football implications.

Re: How would you change the overtime rules?
 

I say keep it the same. I agree with Dungy. You can't a football game with no defense so if they are the ones who have to do their jobs to give you chance then so be it. If there has to be a change then each team should have to alternate possessions with the same rules as regulation. One team kicks off if the recieivng team scores they kickoff if not they either punt or lose the ball on downs. Each team gets equal possessions.

Re: How would you change the overtime rules?
 

I wouldn't change it one bit. What, because they didn't win the toss the defense doesn't have an opportunity to make a play?

Man up. If they get the ball first, it's do or die for the defense. Take it like a man, sack up, and stop 'em. Then you truly deserve to win.

I love the sudden death drama. And by the way, win on a turnover? WTF?

Re: How would you change the overtime rules?
 

Playing all 15:00 of OT. Eliminates the BS field goal win. It also eliminates field position issues. 5 and 10 minute OT doesn't work because of the chance of a 6 minute drive by the recieving team.

What about a 8 min drive? Well, nothings perfect.

Re: How would you change the overtime rules?
 

I heard on one show that its like 53 to 47 % that the team who wins the coin toss wins the game. That did not factor in the team punting away then getting the ball back and scoring on their second drive so that even makes it closer. I don't think its that big of a deal but I could see them allowing both teams a chance with the ball then its who ever scores next.

Re: How would you change the overtime rules?
 

I like the rules just the way they are. Football isn't all about offense, if you want to win play good defense and special teams. The college rules work for college, the NFL is the pro league...pros got to play like pros. No shortcuts, head starts, do-overs, or taking turns.

Re: How would you change the overtime rules?
 

^True enough, I just hate OT ending on a long FG try.

Re: How would you change the overtime rules?
 

[quote=ArtMonkDrillz;518928]All I know is that Donovan McNabb is really glad that the Colts/Chargers game didn't end in a tie.[/quote]

Why would that matter because they are AFC and McNabb is in the NFC?

Re: How would you change the overtime rules?
 

I wouldn't. I'm sick of people saying that if you win the coin flip that you automatically win? That's not true, the team that loses the flip has to play defense and if they stop them, then they get their chance on offense. I've seen teams lose the flip and win in OT as much as teams winning the the coin toss. This system has been in place forever why change it now? It seems like this will be know as an era of WHINERS!!

Re: How would you change the overtime rules?
 

I think both teams should be guaranteed at least one possession. If the defense can hold a team to a field goal, that is still stopping them, and the offense has a chance to at least tie it with a field goal or win it with a touchdown. If both teams end up getting a touchdown, then neither defense was good enough to stop the offense, so it is fair.

If the game is a shootout, then probably whoever wins the toss will win the game, so the other team should have a chance to come back. If the other teams defense makes a play and stops them, it is over.

If it is still tied after one possession each, then the game should then be sudden death.

This will also stop teams for just playing for a field goal once they get in range, by just running the ball over and over.

Re: How would you change the overtime rules?
 

[quote=steveo395;518945]I think both teams should be guaranteed at least one possession. If the defense can hold a team to a field goal, that is still stopping them, and the offense has a chance to at least tie it with a field goal or win it with a touchdown. If both teams end up getting a touchdown, then neither defense was good enough to stop the offense, so it is fair.

If the game is a shootout, then probably whoever wins the toss will win the game, so the other team should have a chance to come back. If the other teams defense makes a play and stops them, it is over.

[B]If it is still tied after one possession each, then the game should then be sudden death.[/B]

This will also stop teams for just playing for a field goal once they get in range, by just running the ball over and over.[/quote]

Huh. That's an interesting suggestion. I could live with that. Plus it would still lend significance to the coin toss, because if it's tied after one possession each, the team that won the toss gets the ball at the start of sudden death anyway.

Re: How would you change the overtime rules?
 

[quote=GMScud;518946]Huh. That's an interesting suggestion. I could live with that. Plus it would still lend significance to the coin toss, because if it's tied after one possession each, the team that won the toss gets the ball at the start of sudden death anyway.[/quote]

GMS. Couldnt that still hypothetically give one of the teams only one shot? If so how is this a improvement over the current system?

Re: How would you change the overtime rules?
 

[quote=ArtMonkDrillz;518928]All I know is that Donovan McNabb is really glad that the Colts/Chargers game didn't end in a tie.[/quote]

Well played sir, well played

Re: How would you change the overtime rules?
 

[quote=44ever;518947]GMS. Wouldn't that still give one of the teams only one shot? If so how is this a improvement over the current system?[/quote]
What he is saying is that both teams get the ball in over time if then its still tied it goes to who ever scores next. The only real change in this is that it garanties that both them get the ball.

Re: How would you change the overtime rules?
 

[quote=firstdown;518949]What he is saying is that both teams get the ball in over time if then its still tied it goes to who ever scores next. The only real change in this is that it garanties that both them get the ball.[/quote]

Yes I see that. I just didn't give it enough thought. I can see that as a good option as well.

Re: How would you change the overtime rules?
 

I wouldn't just change the rules for the sake of changing the rules, but there are improvements that can be made here.

I mean, I feel no sympathy for any coach who loses a coin toss and complains about it, because the 2 pt conversion rule gives you the option of avoiding overtime. But the issue here doesn't seem to be that a lot of coaches are complaining (read: BCS), the issue is that we can probably make the game more fair (or at least the coin toss less significant) with minimal effort.

Re: How would you change the overtime rules?
 

I think
- 10 minutes, (None of that SUDDEN DEATH B.S.)
- Three timeouts per team
- Official challenges only
- If it goes into a 2nd overtime period Offense should play defense and defense should play offense, just to make the QB play LB. j/k
- Really though- If the game is not decided after the first OT then they should go into Sudden death, to get the game over with.

Re: How would you change the overtime rules?
 

[quote=steveo395;518945]I think both teams should be guaranteed at least one possession. If the defense can hold a team to a field goal, that is still stopping them, and the offense has a chance to at least tie it with a field goal or win it with a touchdown. If both teams end up getting a touchdown, then neither defense was good enough to stop the offense, so it is fair.

If the game is a shootout, then probably whoever wins the toss will win the game, so the other team should have a chance to come back. If the other teams defense makes a play and stops them, it is over.

If it is still tied after one possession each, then the game should then be sudden death.

This will also stop teams for just playing for a field goal once they get in range, by just running the ball over and over.[/quote]

Best idea so far, tell Rodger.

Re: How would you change the overtime rules?
 

You hear a lot of people complaining about this recently, having an emotional, visceral reaction to Payton Manning "not even getting the ball" in the Chargers/Colts game. We need to find a way to give both offenses the ball, the argument goes. OK, let's ignore the fact that, as First correctly pointed out, the winner of the coin toss only goes on to win the game 53 percent of the time, which is not a statistically significant discrepancy. Let's ignore the fact that Payton had ample opportunities in regulation to win the game, and failed to make critical conversions and launch sustained scoring drives for the billionth time in the playoffs. And let’s ignore how silly it is to separate Payton from his defense, which buckled in overtime, as if they are not part of the same team. Let's take these complaints at face value.

It’s easy to criticize the current system but I have yet to hear a viable way of improving it. Every proposed fix offers to introduce more problems than the current system already has, imperfect as it may be. The college system is a joke - when you take field position and 2/3 of special teams out of football it's no longer football, we can agree on that right? - so that's out. Many suggest giving the second team a chance to match the first when the first team’s offense scores on their first possession, but this is a terrible idea and here’s why.　　Right now there is a small advantage for the team that wins the toss. Not statistically huge but it exists. This is evinced by the fact that the team that wins the coin toss always elects to receive the ball. In a system in which each team is guaranteed one possession you would see that flip, as teams would see a much greater advantage to going second. By electing to kick you would have the massive advantage of knowing whether you need a fieldgoal or TD to win, something that completely changes offensive strategy, and something which the first offense would not know. Big advantage. Moreover, by winning the toss you would effectively be letting your defense off the hook, while the other team’s defense still has the pressure of having to be perfect. Your defense goes out and gets scored on, you still have a chance to win. But if they make a big turnover or stop to get the ball in good field position, the other team gets no similar reprieve. So that 53/47 split you see now would be skewed way more unevenly…but hey, at least you would get to see Payton go out and get sacked one more time on third down ;)

This ain’t beerpong, there’s no matching. Man up as a team and win the game. Recognize that, as a defense, if you can force a three and out you are going to give your offense good enough field position to win. I don’ t know when making 3 or 4 firstdowns and successfully converting a field goal became a given in the NFL, seems likes it’s kind of hard to me.

Re: How would you change the overtime rules?
 

The only problem I see is if another Ed Hoculli incident comes out and bites a team in the butt in overtime.

Re: How would you change the overtime rules?
 

[quote=djnemo65;518958]In a system in which each team is guaranteed one possession you would see that flip, as teams would see a much greater advantage to going second. By electing to kick you would have the massive advantage of knowing whether you need a fieldgoal or TD to win, something that completely changes offensive strategy, and something which the first offense would not know. Big advantage. [/quote]I still think most teams would choose to receive though because if one possession for each team can't decide it, it becomes sudden death, but now they have the ball.

I tend to like this idea simply because it takes a lot of the meaning out of the coin toss, which is the only real problem. Because let's face it: the overtime rules are very, very fair before the coin toss occurs. It's just that the toss decides a fair amount of games, a few more than we would like in overtime. It's not an omnipresent issue obviously, but if we can de-emphasize the coin toss in OT, I'm all for a change.

Re: How would you change the overtime rules?
 

The NFL OT is perfect just the way it is, very exciting with the game on the line on every play. From what I have read the team that wins the toss wins about 50% of the time so winning the toss isnt the huge advantage its made out to be.

Re: How would you change the overtime rules?
 

By the way, the Colts lost because of penalties on defense.

Re: How would you change the overtime rules?
 

I have no problem with the current format.

If any team is bitter about going into overtime they should look at themselves first as to the reason why they're there. You don't like it then score more points.

It's kinda like the Steelers at the Skins game this year. There were tons of PIT fans waving the terrible towel. They were everywhere and it made me sick to sit at FedEx and see that but if the Skins dominated the game then every black & gold ass would have been sitting quiet in their seat.

If you're not good on both sides of the ball then you probably aren't that great of an all around team deserving of a Super Bowl or a hard earned overtime victory.

Re: How would you change the overtime rules?
 

I like the idea with the other team getting one possession after the other team scores, but only if it's on the first possession. This would also be good for the NFL and TV people so that the running over time within the 3 hour time slot problem doesn't become a big factor in stopping them from fixing the problem.

Re: How would you change the overtime rules?
 

[quote=GTripp0012;518960]I still think most teams would choose to receive though because if one possession for each team can't decide it, it becomes sudden death, but now they have the ball.

I tend to like this idea simply because it takes a lot of the meaning out of the coin toss, which is the only real problem. Because let's face it: the overtime rules are very, very fair before the coin toss occurs. It's just that the toss decides a fair amount of games, a few more than we would like in overtime. It's not an omnipresent issue obviously, but if we can de-emphasize the coin toss in OT, I'm all for a change.[/quote]

I don't agree that teams would elect to receive, because by kicking you are getting all of the potential field-position advantages of going on defense first, being able to make a stop or turnover to force a shortfield, while removing all of the risk of getting scored on. It's a win/win.

And just because a team scores on their first possession I don't think you can say the toss decided the game. I think the defense that got whipped has a little bit to do with it as well.

Re: How would you change the overtime rules?
 

I'm having trouble typing this as my 2 year old daughter just wants to see the top of the page with the four players in skins unifom. She is hooked on the skins stuff and every morning she gets out her skins sweet shirt. So I guess I have to scroll back to the top of the page because she is getting mad.

Re: How would you change the overtime rules?
 

They should do it soccer style. 5 players from each team try to kick field goals from the 20 yard line. I would love to see Cooley out there trying to kick a field goal(lmao).

Re: How would you change the overtime rules?
 

[quote=WaldSkins;518979]They should do it soccer style. 5 players from each team try to kick field goals from the 20 yard line. I would love to see Cooley out there trying to kick a field goal(lmao).[/quote]

Even better, they should make the defensive tackles and offensive linemen kick the field goals. Can you imagine the Red Snapper trying to kick a field goal? I'd be f'ing hilarious!!

Re: How would you change the overtime rules?
 

[quote=Ruhskins;518980]Even better, they should make the defensive tackles and offensive linemen kick the field goals. Can you imagine the Red Snapper trying to kick a field goal? I'd be f'ing hilarious!![/quote]

Can't be any worse then Suisham

Re: How would you change the overtime rules?
 

People have a tendency of wanting to overhaul things that aren't entirely perfect. It's how we wound up with the BCS system. Statistically, there is no statistical advantage to the coin flip. About 51% of the teams that win the flip wind up winning the game. The solution would probably be worse than the problem; like the college overtime for example, which is even more unfair as the team that has the ball second doesn't have any difficult decisions to make.

Re: How would you change the overtime rules?
 

get rid of overtime all together

Re: How would you change the overtime rules?
 

FYI...

From the 2000 through 2007 regular seasons, there have been 124 overtime games. In every single game except one (I believe), the team that won the toss elected to receive. And those receiving teams won 60% of the time (and tied once). That's a relatively large advantage, particularly when compared to home field advantage.

Home teams have only won 51% of OT games. The weakness of HFA isn't too surprising given the way it diminishes throughout a game. It's strongest in the 1st quarter and then diminishes through subsequent quarters until it's almost non-existent in OT. Fans are presumably at their most involved at this point in a game, which suggests crowd involvement is not the primary source of HFA.

I got that from here: [url=http://www.advancednflstats.com/2008/10/how-important-is-coin-flip-in-ot.html]Advanced NFL Stats: How Important is the Coin Flip in OT?[/url]

Re: How would you change the overtime rules?
 

Just play a 5th quarter