NFL Overtime Options

Possible Changes that Could Fix the NFL's Current Overtime Flaws

It happens every season, usually multiple times. Two teams end regulation with a tie score. The captains approach the middle of the field and wait for the coin toss which more often than not decides the winner of the game. The NFL's overtime system is one 15 minute quarter played in sudden death style. This means that if one team scores, the game is over. If neither team scores, the game ends in a tie.

The problem with the current system is that when a team wins the toss and receives the ball they will score on that drive more than half the time. If both teams have a possession, the chances of either team winning are about equal. This means that over 75% of the time, the team that has the ball first is going to win. Is this a fair way to determine a winner? Where three-quarters of the overtime games are decided based on a coin-flip? Many ideas have been proposed to fix this problem and we will look at a few below.

No FGs

Description: This season there were 16 overtime games played in the regular season. Of those 16 games, 13 ended with a field goal. In fact, since the start of the 2000 season, 128 regular season games have gone into overtime. Of those over 75% (97 games) have ended on a field goal in overtime. Since 2000, when overtime occurred in playoff games, 5 out of 8 were decided by a field goal. Many people think that since most professional kickers can hit from 50+ yards that field goals should not be allowed in overtime. This means that instead of teams driving about 45 yards to get into field goal range, they would be forced to drive about 80 yards to score a touchdown, thus giving the defense an extra 30+ yards to stop them.

Pros: This rule would create more chances for both teams to touch the ball.

Cons: This rule would lead to more ties and longer overtime periods. It wouldn't guarantee that both teams would still get a chance to touch the ball.

College Style

Description: College football has long operated overtime with their overtime system of alternating possessions starting from the 25 yard line. Each team gets the ball and tries to score. If both teams score in the same manner, they go to double overtime.