NFL Overtime Rules

Good luck to all 4 teams remaining this weekend. While I am not really pulling for any team this weekend, I do think that on the 100 Year Anniversary of the NFL, it would be epic if the Super Bowl included the two teams that faced each other in the very first Super Bowl (Kansas City and Green Bay). Plus I think a Rodgers-Mahomes match up would be a lot of fun to watch.

That being said, my one hope is that none of the games go into overtime. The overtime rules in the NFL are miserable and should be changed. Presently the team that wins the coin toss will get the ball (any coach would be fired on the spot if he won the coin toss and elected to kick off). If the team that wins the coin toss goes down and scores a touchdown, the game is over. However, if they go down and score a field goal, then the other team has a chance to get the ball. If they score a field goal, play moves on. If they score a touchdown, they win.If they don't score, game is over.

The best example of why I hate the overtime rules is Super Bowl LI. Atlanta goes up big in the game, New England comes back to tie it and force overtime. New England wins the toss, they go down and score a touchdown - game over.

So why is that bad. The best part of Atlanta's team, the offense did not see the field in overtime. Not one snap. Matt Ryan the league MVP did not even get on the field. While this is not diminishing the title by the Patriots, they did win the title under the current overtime rules, but the system needs to be changed.

Here is what I propose. Have the coin flip, like normal. Each team has one possession. If the score is still tied after each team has one possession, they go to the college overtime rules.Do the coin flip to decide who gets the ball first. Then each team gets a possession starting on the 25. If they score, the other team gets a chance to match it or better it, in the event the other team kicks a kick a field goal. The catch here is that both teams get a chance. Some will argue that this process will eliminate special teams. Not quite, they still have to kick extra points. (besides how many fans really go to games to see special teams) In college if both teams are still tied after the 2nd overtime, then they forgo the extra point and have to play for two, which I think the NFL should adopt as well.

Now in Super Bowl LI, if both teams had a chance of possession, and New England still wins, do you think Atlanta fans would feel jilted. Probably, but only because they were up 21-3 at half and ended up losing.But the catch is both teams would have had a chance. The current overtime rules are like going to extra innings in baseball and declaring the team that was first up the winner because they hit a home run.

The Saints fans would love this rule change as well since they had an overtime game against Minnesota in which Drew Brees did not see the field in overtime.

NFL - if the game is all about the fans, then please adopt these rules. Kick your current rules to the curb.