I'll never understand why people prefer NFL overtime to college

[QuaoarsKing]

The Bills lose without ever getting a chance to play offense in overtime. No other sport does that.

You could tweak it a bit to have the OT periods start with a kickoff so that each time has to drive down the field, rather than starting at the 25, but the concept of college overtime is so much better than the concept of NFL overtime.

 

[FlotownDawg]

It’s better than it used to be. At least a team has to score a touchdown now instead of driving 30 yards and kicking a field goal. I would prefer they play a whole additional quarter, at least in the playoffs.

 

[DesotoCountyDawg]

Both teams should get a chance and then it’s sudden death.

 

[wsjmsu75]

Both teams should get a chance and then it’s sudden death.

Yep. I think that's the best way to do it.

 

[CookieMonster.sixpack]

Whatever makes the coin flip inconsequential is what should be done. Just dumb that a coin flip decides anything.

 

[msstatelp1]

Both teams should get a chance and then it’s sudden death.

100% this. I'd like college to be this way.

 

[maroonmania]

Just for the playoffs do it like a basketball OT. Just throw 5 minutes on the clock and keep playing! Whoever is winning when the next 5 minute segment ends wins.

 

[Trojanbulldog19]

Not fair to the other team if both teams are hot on offense and not so much defensively

 

[QuaoarsKing]

The best solution is this:

OT period 1 - Kickoff and drive as far as they can go, to score or not score. Then kickoff at the other team gets a chance to do the same. No kicking extra points - must go for 2, so each team ends OT1 with either 0, 3, 6, or 8 points.

Repeat the process until a period ends without a tie, alternating who goes first. Maybe also add a 5 minute time limit for each drive so that managing the clock is part of it.

Having said all that, every suggestion on this thread is much better than the current system, so I would support changing to any of them.

 

[natchezdawg]

They would be better off just extending the period another 5 minutes.

than playing sudden death with a flip to see who gets a short field. Coin flip is dumb.

 

[wsjmsu75]

Just for the playoffs just do it like a basketball OT. Just throw 5 minutes on the clock and keep playing! Whoever is winning when the next 5 minute segment ends wins.

Actually, that is probably the best solution. Might make the first OT period 8 minutes though. Then go to 5 minute periods after that if still tied.

 

[MaroonOil]

NFL OT is fine now with the FG change.

You have four quarters to settle it in the first place. Thinking of the real extra toll on the bodies too, just crazy.

 

[philduckworth]

Both teams should get a chance and then it’s sudden death.

It's as simple as that.

 

[karlchilders.sixpack]

Yes, especially in the playoffs

I can understand doing otherwise in the regular season.

 

[QuaoarsKing]

NFL OT is fine now with the FG change.

You have four quarters to settle it in the first place. Thinking of the real extra toll on the bodies too, just crazy.

It's never OK that a team doesn't even get a chance to score itself.

Imagine if a team could lose in the top of the 10th without playing the bottom. That would be awful. Even if you give up 10 runs in the top of the 10th, you still get to play the bottom.

 

[Leeshouldveflanked]

It's as simple as that.

Yep…. 1 possession each then if still tied, sudden death.

 

[prdubya]

New college OT with the 2points is garbage tho. I say do first round regular from the 25 then start rd 2 at the 35, forced to go for 2. Rd 3 at the 45 w/ 2 pts, then Rd 4 and on from the 50 w/ 2 pts.

NFL should do 25, then 50 yd with 2 pts for each after round 2.

 

[BoomBoom.sixpack]

than playing sudden death with a flip to see who gets a short field. Coin flip is dumb.

Why have a clock? Just keep playing when the clock expires. Team that had the ball keeps it where they had it. Play until the tie is broken.

 

[dawgman.sixpack]

The college Ot rules were apparently changed to alleviate the possibility of exhaustion winning (Players and fans) rather than the best team as they drug out the final outcome. The criticism of the the pro version is valid as the opportunity to score is possibly denied one team. The best solution is the high school version with both teams getting the ball on the 10 yard line until one wins. after two opportunities each if still tied must go for 2

 

[PartTimeGenius]

While I don't disagree, if we're going to sudden death, why prolong it? Both teams had their shot for 4 quarters prior to that. I get that it is funner to watch, but what else does it really accomplish? Each team has already had its chance.

 

[PartTimeGenius]

Baseball is played that way innings 1-9. Football is not about everyone getting equal possessions. Hence the clock. Whoever is ahead when the clock ends......wins. Same with Basketball.

 

[mstateglfr]

Baseball is played that way innings 1-9. Football is not about everyone getting equal possessions. Hence the clock. Whoever is ahead when the clock ends......wins. Same with Basketball.

In basketball there is a shotclock that ensures a lot of possessions take place during OT. That creates opportunities on offense and defense for both teams. So when the clock stops, both teams played a bunch of offense and defense. Compare that to the NFL.

 

[mstateglfr]

Just for the playoffs do it like a basketball OT. Just throw 5 minutes on the clock and keep playing! Whoever is winning when the next 5 minute segment ends wins.

5 minutes? A team can play great D for 5 minutes and lose because of a last second field goal. They never got a chance on offense.

 

[mstateglfr]

NFL OT is fine now with the FG change.

You have four quarters to settle it in the first place. Thinking of the real extra toll on the bodies too, just crazy.

You have 9 innings to settle a baseball game, but the game doesnt end in extra innings without both teams playing offense and defense.
You have 48 minutes to settle a basketball game, but the game doesnt end with the first basket in OT. Both teams have to play a lot of possessions on O and D during OT.
You have 60 minutes to settle a hockey game, but the nature of the game ensures there is a lot of offense and defense played before a goal is scored. And if its still tied, a shootout occurs where teams can counter each goal scored.


All these sports allow for both offense and defense to be played by both teams in overtime.


Oh, and in soccer you get 2 15 minute overtimes where both teams play a bunch of offense and defense. And if it is still tied, a penalty kick shootout takes place where they dont just declare the team that scores first the winner- the other team gets to counter.




All these sports allow for offense and defense to be played in OT.

 

[thekimmer]

The NFL sudden death OT format was probably OK in 1974 before rule changes that gave offenses a huge advantage over the defense. The league recognized this with giving the coin toss loser a chance to play offense if the winner only scored a FG. Now they need to go all the way with that concept to guarantee both teams a shot with the football. That might change the strategy of taking the ball first if you win the toss.

 

[patdog]

Whatever makes the coin flip inconsequential is what should be done. Just dumb that a coin flip decides anything.

Regan winning the OT coin flip picks the direction they’ll face & the yard line for the kickoff. The other team chooses to kick or receive. The analysts will figure out real quick where the balancing point is to give each team a 50-50 chance to win.

 

[Bulldog Bruce]

As long as there is sudden death you change nothing. How is it fair if both teams get to play offense and they each score a TD and EP. So again you are in that the team that won the coin toss, gets the advantage. Also the team that gets it second, if the other team had scored, doesn't have to play regular football in that they have 4 downs in each set of downs.

Therefore If your main goal was fairness, a 10 minute extra period is probably the most fair. Maybe go down to 8 for OT2 if the 10 minute period doesn't solve it.

I am personally fine how it is now even though the team that is playing catchup in Sudden Death OT does have the 4 downs to get a first.

Buffalo had to make one stop at the end of regulation. If they squibbed the kick and made KC waste just one play, they most likely win.

 

[PartTimeGenius]

Actually the shot clock only ensures that a team must shoot. It does not ensure opportunities for each team off/def. It enhances the CHANCES of those opportunities, but does not ensure them. In theory, a team could shoot-miss-rebound the entire period until a bucket is finally made as the clock expires. Highly unlikely, but still a possibility.

 

[maroonmania]

5 minutes? A team can play great D for 5 minutes and lose because of a last second field goal. They never got a chance on offense.

If a team can manage to do that, so what? The point is that a normal game ends because a clock runs out, not because someone scores and the game ends automatically. In regulation, if a team gets the ball with the score tied with 5 minutes to go and can run the clock out to kick a game winning FG nobody complains, its just kudos to the team that did that. With a game like last night you might get 4 or 5 total scores combined in an extra 5 minutes of play. Nobody was slowing down to run out the clock.

 

[maroonmania]

The college Ot rules were apparently changed to alleviate the possibility of exhaustion winning (Players and fans) rather than the best team as they drug out the final outcome. The criticism of the the pro version is valid as the opportunity to score is possibly denied one team. The best solution is the high school version with both teams getting the ball on the 10 yard line until one wins. after two opportunities each if still tied must go for 2

Which is fine for the regular season but for the playoffs that should not be the primary consideration. I would say the same thing about the CFP OT rules.

 

[mstateglfr]

If a team can manage to do that, so what? The point is that a normal game ends because a clock runs out, not because someone scores and the game ends automatically. In regulation, if a team gets the ball with the score tied with 5 minutes to go and can run the clock out to kick a game winning FG nobody complains, its just kudos to the team that did that. With a game like last night you might get 4 or 5 total scores combined in an extra 5 minutes of play. Nobody was slowing down to run out the clock.

In your scenario, nobody complains because both teams have had multiple opportunities thru the course of 60 minutes to play both offense and defense. OT is effectively a new game. A team can score 8 points as time expires, win the ball in OT, and score again. That scenario(back to back possessions) isnt possible during regulation play. Clearly OT needs to be treated as a new game and what happened during regulation play is set aside.

Also, using last night's game as an example why 5minutes is a good idea is...a bad idea. That sort of offense is clearly an outlier.

 

[mstateglfr]

Actually the shot clock only ensures that a team must shoot. It does not ensure opportunities for each team off/def. It enhances the CHANCES of those opportunities, but does not ensure them. In theory, a team could shoot-miss-rebound the entire period until a bucket is finally made as the clock expires. Highly unlikely, but still a possibility.

In reality, that is a distinction without a difference because it doesnt happen.
But sure, it is possible for a team to continually miss and get offensive boards long enough to run out the clock with a last second shot.
Good point.***

 

[IBleedMaroonDawg]

NFL OT is fine now with the FG change.

You have four quarters to settle it in the first place. Thinking of the real extra toll on the bodies too, just crazy.

So we can let 4 quarters of Hell be settled with just a CoinToss got it.

 

[thekimmer]

That is true but at least each team would have to play both offense and defense in OT instead of no chance to play O if the coin toss winner scores a TD. And the second possession team would have the option of going for two if they believed they couldn't stop the other team from scoring again. In fact, if both teams were guaranteed a possession you would likely see the toss winner choosing to let the other team have the ball first.

 

[maroonmania]

In your scenario, nobody complains because both teams have had multiple opportunities thru the course of 60 minutes to play both offense and defense. OT is effectively a new game. A team can score 8 points as time expires, win the ball in OT, and score again. That scenario(back to back possessions) isnt possible during regulation play. Clearly OT needs to be treated as a new game and what happened during regulation play is set aside.

Also, using last night's game as an example why 5minutes is a good idea is...a bad idea. That sort of offense is clearly an outlier.

It wouldn't be a new game in my scenario, it would just be a 5 minute extension of the current game like extra time in soccer or basketball. If you are just looking for complete fairness with a "new" game, then nothing can beat the alternating possession method of the college OT rule. College OT rule basically turns football into baseball where each team gets their turn at bat.

 

[615 Guy]

NFL OT is not designed to be "fair" b/c the league doesn't want teams playing for a tie. How do you encourage a team to not play for a tie? By making the OT outcome heavily dependent on a coin-toss.

Bills could have gone for 2 last night after the TD and ensured a KC FG wouldn't tie the game. The way they were playing they likely would've gotten it and KC almost certainly doesn't get a TD, Bills win in regulation.

 

[patdog]

In the game yesterday, all that does is delay the Bills loss by 1 or 2 possessions. Their defense had 3 chances to stop the Chief's offense in the last 2 minutes of regulation and the overtime, and they got shredded on all 3 possessions. Only thing that held the Chiefs to 16 points instead of 21 was the clock in regulation. Someone posted a pretty good idea for overtime a week or so ago where you'd simply play a 5th 15-minute quarter, which works good in theory, but what if you're still tied then? Maybe continue where the 5th quarter left off in sudden death?

 

[wsjmsu75]

In the game yesterday, all that does is delay the Bills loss by 1 or 2 possessions. Their defense had 3 chances to stop the Chief's offense in the last 2 minutes of regulation and the overtime, and they got shredded on all 3 possessions. Only thing that held the Chiefs to 16 points instead of 21 was the clock in regulation. Someone posted a pretty good idea for overtime a week or so ago where you'd simply play a 5th 15-minute quarter, which works good in theory, but what if you're still tied then? Maybe continue where the 5th quarter left off in sudden death?

I think that makes the most sense. I would shorten the OT period to something like 8 or 10 minutes though. Also, give each team 3 timeouts to keep them from passing out due to exhaustion.

And yes, if still tied at the end of the OT period, just leave the ball wherever it is and resume play in sudden death mode.

 

[MaroonOil]

Again, OT rules are fine. This is the NFL, fairness has nothing to do with it. You don’t play for ties. Just win and who cares how. Each team had 60 minutes to figure it out.

If you truly believe the game comes down to a coin flip then ride on in the sunset.