NFL considering change to overtime rules in playoff games
by David Fucillo on Feb 27, 2010 9:24 PM PST
in San Francisco 49ers News
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PrintThe Internet is slightly atwitter with this news: At next month's meeting of the NFL Competition Committee, the league is going to discuss a new concept for overtime in the playoffs. According to league spokesman Greg Aiello:
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.
Remember that the owners would have to approve it with a 2/3 vote, so it's certainly not in place yet. I'd imagine the networks would want some say given the potential for extended overtime games.
I've never been a fan of the NFL's overtime system. While I see some value in the college system, I always thought some kind of compromise between the two would be perfectly fine. This would be a perfectly fine compromise as far as I'm concerned. If you can't stop another team from scoring a touchdown, that's life. But if you hold them to a field goal, you deserve a shot at scoring.
Until now I always thought it would take a Super Bowl being won on the first possession of OT for a change to happen. It's possible that all it took was Brett Favre. My favorite part of the ESPN link above:
The debate about the rules gained steam after the NFC championship game, when New Orleans beat Minnesota 31-28 in overtime and Brett Favre's Vikings never got the ball in the extra period. Under the proposed rule, Minnesota would have gotten another possession because the Vikings didn't allow a touchdown.
I don't know if that was necessarily the impetus for this potential change, but if it's because of Favre, I'd certainly have to laugh. Finally a reason to note dislike him so much (notice I didn't say finally a reason to like him!)
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It's a start
they should do this for all games.
Yes Drew K, Tim Tebow will probably get picked in the first round.
I think this is ridiculous, to implement at this point in the NFL.
Do or die, play some defense or go home, kickers still have to make kicks and plays still need to be made. Win the game in regulation, that is when both teams have oppurtunities to score. DO NOT CHANGE THE OT SETTINGS.
Tribute to #42 Ronnie Lott
I agree for the most part.
I’d like it if they moved the kickoff spot about 15 yards to increase the chances of a touchback, which would make a team have to drive at least 50 or so yards before getting in FG range.
Or, as I’ve mentioned before, just let the team that had possession at the end of regulation keep possession in OT (but with the ball at their own 20).
I think my first suggestion is the most feasible and makes the most sense, though.
What we've got here is a failure to communicate.
by SportsChicken on Feb 27, 2010 11:36 PM PST up reply actions
I don't like it
First that scores in OT is fine with me
"Proving 2nd class ownership is profitable"
by More False Hope on Feb 27, 2010 11:48 PM PST reply actions
I think they should allow both teams one chance no matter what
Other options:
1. Give each team one drive. If the score is still tied after that, first to score wins.
2. First team to score 6 points (by touchdown or 2 field goals) wins
3. Give each team one drive unless the team scoring first scores TD + 2-point conversion. If they score just 6 or 7, give the other team a chance to score as well, but require them to attempt to beat the other’s score (if team 1 scores 7, and team 2 scores a TD, they HAVE to go for the 2-point conversion)
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