Overtime Needs To Be Changed....

[ExtremeGamer]

Re: Overtime Needs To Be Changed....

I hate the college system, used to like it, but the older I get, the more I hate it. It's not football. I don't get it, you play 4 quarters of the same rules, then it's a tie so the rules change to break the tie?

The only thing I'd change about the NFL OT is both offenses have to see the field. If team A kicks to team B, and they bring it back for a TD, team A then gets to receive a kick off and have a chance to tie it. They get stopped on downs, turn the ball over or don't score, then that's ballgame.

If team A gets the ball, doesn't score, and then team B does, game over as well.

Not sure how you would work it if team A threw an INT returned for a TD, but that's what the competition committee is for

[Hooe]

Re: Overtime Needs To Be Changed....

The only change I'd consider making is in the event of a field goal on the first drive, to let the opposing team have one possession to attempt to score. By and large, though, I really think overtime is fine the way it is; if your team's defense is reasonably good, what's wrong with having them play first?

EDIT: I also recall reading somewhere that the team that wins the coin toss in overtime wins but about 50% of the time; I'll see if I can dig that up. Really though, it's fine.

[Rocky]

Re: Overtime Needs To Be Changed....

I like this idea:

If you score a TD, then you win.

If you kick a FG, a team gets to "match" that FG.

[allBthere]

Re: Overtime Needs To Be Changed....

If I was in charge I'd just make it time based. Anywhere from 5 minutes upto a full 15 minutes. I don't see why it has to be 'sudden death', especially since it's not that difficult to get into field goal range on many teams.

I don't like both teams getting the ball at a certain point on the field though...just keep it like a regular game, and make both sides crap their pants because there isn't much time left.

In the regular season they should do this too, and if there is no score - go to field goals that keep moving back 5 yards starting at 40 lol

[Flyboy]

Re: Overtime Needs To Be Changed....

*yawn*

Play defense, make the offense punt.

Simple.

[snepp]

Re: Overtime Needs To Be Changed....

I think they should just play a full quarter, regular rules. After that they can go to sudden death (during the playoffs) or end in a tie (reg season).

[superjames1992]

Re: Overtime Needs To Be Changed....

The coin doesn't decide anything. All you have to do is go out there and play defense and you'll get the ball back with good field position.

That said, I'd rather they just play another quarter, but I know that won't happen for TV reasons.

[SuperBowlNachos]

Re: Overtime Needs To Be Changed....

That's fine. I just want the other team to get the ball. If you want to settle for a field goal, fine. Just remember that they could top it.

If a team has great special teams why should they be punished? If they suck why should they be rewarded by not having to kick off? If you really want to win you will pin them inside their 30 and not let them cross your 35 for decent FG position

[goh]

Re: Overtime Needs To Be Changed....

I'm in favor of a 10 minute quater.

I'm more concerned an 8-8 team got the home game over a 12-4 team while an 11-5 team doesn't even get in. Sounds like the BCS.

[snepp]

Re: Overtime Needs To Be Changed....

I'm more concerned an 8-8 team got the home game over a 12-4 team while an 11-5 team doesn't even get in. Sounds like the BCS.

Yeah, that's ridiculous too.

Allowing a team with an 8-8 record into the playoffs should be enough of a reward. The home game should at least go to the team with the better record.

[timid]

Re: Overtime Needs To Be Changed....

For everybody saying just play defense.....

"Yes, offense, defense and special teams are part of the game but you know damn well that by the end of the game the defense will ALWAYS be more tired than the offense.....This is a fundament part of football....Thats why teams run the ball to try to wear down the defense.....I've never heard an annoucer say, "this team shouldn't run the ball so much or the offense will be tired".......I've never heard it in my life...."

Apparently this makes no sense to some people.......I guess...

[SPTO]

Re: Overtime Needs To Be Changed....

It's not like winning the coin toss automatically ends a game. Just look at recentish games like the NYJ/SD game a few years back and of course the two classic examples of KC/Miami in 1970 and NYJ/Cleveland in '86. Both of those games were in double OT.

The only change i'd make is if the first team scores then the opposing team has a chance to match or better it.

[muggins]

Re: Overtime Needs To Be Changed....

<table width="417" border="0" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1"><tbody><tr><td width="286">Total no. of overtime games (1974–2003)</td> <td width="124">

365

</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Both teams had at least one possession</td> <td>

261 (72 %)

</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Team won toss and won game</td> <td>

189 (52 %)

</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Team lost toss and won game</td> <td>

160 (44 %)

</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Team won toss and drove for winning score</td> <td>

102 (28 %)

</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Games ending in a tie</td> <td>

15 (5 %)

</td></tr></tbody></table>
So 52% of the time the team that won the toss won the game, and only 28% of the time they won the toss and won on that drive. Seems like fine statistics to me.

Like Extremegamer said above, you don't play four quarters then change the game. You don't play 9 innings in baseball then have a homerun derby. You don't run 500 laps in Nascar then do a quarter mile drag (although Nascar doesn't have OT... anyway), you don't play 4 quarters of NBA then have a dunk contest to see who wins.

The college formula specifically ignores special teams returns, something which I think is a significant part of the game.

[mvb34]

Re: Overtime Needs To Be Changed....

Play defense, pretty simple. The Colts had numerous chances to get off the field but didn't.

[Rocky]

Re: Overtime Needs To Be Changed....

<table width="417" border="0" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1"><tbody><tr><td width="286">Total no. of overtime games (1974–2003)</td> <td width="124">

365

</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Both teams had at least one possession</td> <td>

261 (72 %)

</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Team won toss and won game</td> <td>

189 (52 %)

</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Team lost toss and won game</td> <td>

160 (44 %)

</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Team won toss and drove for winning score</td> <td>

102 (28 %)

</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Games ending in a tie</td> <td>

15 (5 %)

</td></tr></tbody></table>
So 52% of the time the team that won the toss won the game, and only 28% of the time they won the toss and won on that drive. Seems like fine statistics to me.

Like Extremegamer said above, you don't play four quarters then change the game. You don't play 9 innings in baseball then have a homerun derby. You don't run 500 laps in Nascar then do a quarter mile drag (although Nascar doesn't have OT... anyway), you don't play 4 quarters of NBA then have a dunk contest to see who wins.

The college formula specifically ignores special teams returns, something which I think is a significant part of the game.

Don't you have shootouts in soccer?

I don't think that's the point though. The point is that NFL overtimes have to be the least anti-climatic events in all of sports. Take away the scope of the overtime...is it really more thrilling, more entertaining than a college overtime. Has any NFL OT game topped Miami/OSU of 2002? CFB OT has some flaws, but IMO, it is infinately more exciting then the 95% of the NFL OT's.