Overtime in the NFL

statfreak · 12-12-2002, 02:33 PM

I came across this at another forum, but didn't remember seeing it discussed here.

Anyway, Magnum357 posted:

Just heard this morning on an NFL show that their is offical word that the NFL is looking into the issue of OT. They are considering three options now for possible OT rule changes. Here are the three options...

1) No change. Keep OT the way it is.

2) Each team gets one possession. Basically pretty much like NFLE OT rules.

3) First team to score 6 points in OT, wins!

( now, my comments: )

I'd like to see them use either option 2 or 3. Option 3 would be interesting because you would still have sudden death, but at the same time not. Basically it would diminish the role of kickers and they would have to make two field goals to win the game.

So, what are your opinions on NFL overtime?

(sorry if this was discussed earlier and I missed it, I don't venture into the Talk Sports forum very often).

statfreak · 12-12-2002, 02:41 PM

I would like to see a system similar to college or the XFL.

Each team gets possession at the opponents 25 to start. If team A scores, then team B must match or beat that score in either the same number or less plays than team A used. IF team B cannot score within the same number of plays, then team A wins. If team A did not score or scored less points than team B, then team B wins.

If both teams score identical points and in the same number of plays, then the ball is pushed back 5 yards. Overtime continues in this manner until one team wins.

That would be my ideal overtime system.

ScottFalk · 12-12-2002, 03:00 PM

I say play the whole 15 minutes, if its still a tie, then its a tie. Otherwise, maybe no field goals allowed, first to score a touchdown or a safety.

Total Nirvana · 12-12-2002, 03:02 PM

i'm sorta against the idea of having team B the same amount of plays as team A, because what If team A scores on the first play?

Hammer755 · 12-12-2002, 03:04 PM

I think that the high school/college/NFLE method of overtime is a ludicrous way of deciding the outcome of a tie game. Why fundamentally change the enire method of playing the game just because it's going into OT? It would be comparable to deciding a baseball game tied after 9 innings with a HR derby. Sure it's exciting, but it completely changes the flow of the game, and it's ridiculous to change the game so dramatically just to decide a tie. Often in college, a 20-20 tie becomes a 50-49 7OT game where the stats and records become so distorted that they are no longer relevant.

While I don't think the current system is ideal, it's better than the alternatives. Although after thinking about it, the first to 6 points method is starting go grow on me.

statfreak · 12-12-2002, 03:14 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by USBL Commish 24
i'm sorta against the idea of having team B the same amount of plays as team A, because what If team A scores on the first play?

Then team B has to score in one play. I really like that rule. I think it adds more strategy for team A. Do they go for the score right away or play it safe?

Besides, the intent is to have team B match team A. To do that, I think they need to not only match the score, but also do it in the same or less plays.

statfreak · 12-12-2002, 03:16 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Hammer755
I think that the high school/college/NFLE method of overtime is a ludicrous way of deciding the outcome of a tie game. Why fundamentally change the enire method of playing the game just because it's going into OT? It would be comparable to deciding a baseball game tied after 9 innings with a HR derby. Sure it's exciting, but it completely changes the flow of the game, and it's ridiculous to change the game so dramatically just to decide a tie. Often in college, a 20-20 tie becomes a 50-49 7OT game where the stats and records become so distorted that they are no longer relevant.

While I don't think the current system is ideal, it's better than the alternatives. Although after thinking about it, the first to 6 points method is starting go grow on me.

I hadn't considered that stats would be affected as much as they could be.

I think it needs to be either limited to 1 or 2 possessions each or the first to 6 points.

Dwolfson20 · 12-12-2002, 03:18 PM

I think the matching amount of plays idea is silly and goes even farther from the "reality" of regular play, like Hammer was saying. I kind of like the 6 points rule though.

blubbla · 12-12-2002, 03:41 PM

Give both teams one crack at scoring, with no game clock in play, then if it's still tied, go to the 15 minutes of sudden death like it is now.

frozenrope9190 · 12-12-2002, 04:33 PM

Has the NFL world been shaken on its axis because of the first tie in 5 years? Jeez...

The system has been fine before and is fine now. I say leave it alone.

sixto · 12-12-2002, 04:42 PM

I don't see any reason to change. The only thing I might do is eliminate overtime altogether. Overtime is demonstrably an advantage for the team lucky enough to win the coin toss. A tie is a viable conclusion to a game and has legitimate in-game strategic consequences.

I'd eliminate OT and go with an 18-20 game schedule which, besides slightly mitigating worries of a 6-8-2 division champion, will give us more football, and I really don't know why they don't do that. We don't need the bye week anymore so there's week 17. Start a week earlier and you're good to go.

statfreak · 12-12-2002, 05:09 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by sixto
I don't see any reason to change. The only thing I might do is eliminate overtime altogether. Overtime is demonstrably an advantage for the team lucky enough to win the coin toss. A tie is a viable conclusion to a game and has legitimate in-game strategic consequences.

I'd eliminate OT and go with an 18-20 game schedule which, besides slightly mitigating worries of a 6-8-2 division champion, will give us more football, and I really don't know why they don't do that. We don't need the bye week anymore so there's week 17. Start a week earlier and you're good to go.

See, I'd hate it if they went to an 18 or more game schedule.

I like my record books to have some continuity to them and even increasing the schedule to 16 games is still something that bothers me.

It is a lot easier to break records when you have the opportunity to appear in 20 to 40 more games.

sixto · 12-12-2002, 05:21 PM

sttfrk i sympathize with you completely on records, but i don't think that's a reason not to provide a more entertaining seasonal package.

at the same time the proposal to make teams get to 6 points could result in some outrageous single-game records as teams march up and down the field then trudge jose cortez and neil rackers out there to miss their kicks.

BaseballMan · 12-12-2002, 05:30 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by frozenrope9190
Has the NFL world been shaken on its axis because of the first tie in 5 years? Jeez...

The system has been fine before and is fine now. I say leave it alone.

and has your team lost 4 ot games in the last year with 3 of them cause it didnt win the coin toss? Including the afc championship.
Yeah its easy to say well play defense but its not that hard for team to win when they know they only have to get in field goal position and not have to get a td. Thats almost tieing one hand of the defense to its back.

Sure it can and has been done but i bet the majority of teams win on the first possesion in ot.
Its the same as baseball putting a man on 2nd and saying the first team to bat him in wins.
Field goals should not be allowed in ot. It takes away the strategy
of the game

twins15 · 12-12-2002, 05:32 PM

I would like to see it like college. But with teams forced to go for 2 points every ot.

Draft Dodger · 12-12-2002, 05:33 PM

personally, I'd keep it the way it is.

if they go to the college method, I'd probably stop watching - I don't want to watch a 58-52 game.

I kind of like the "first team to score 6 points option" or the "play the full 15 minutes" if there had to be a change.

the NHL is the sport that needs to change - I don't like seeing OT just last 5 minutes.

fantom1979 · 12-13-2002, 02:56 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by frozenrope9190
Has the NFL world been shaken on its axis because of the first tie in 5 years? Jeez...

The system has been fine before and is fine now. I say leave it alone.

Agreed

Total Nirvana · 12-13-2002, 10:29 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Draft Dodger
the NHL is the sport that needs to change - I don't like seeing OT just last 5 minutes.

I think you meant the NBA, that has 5 minute Overtimes...

frozenrope9190 · 12-13-2002, 11:58 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by BaseballMan
and has your team lost 4 ot games in the last year with 3 of them cause it didnt win the coin toss? Including the afc championship.
Yeah its easy to say well play defense but its not that hard for team to win when they know they only have to get in field goal position and not have to get a td. Thats almost tieing one hand of the defense to its back.

The end of the 4th quarter of a tie game is the same way...teams know they only need a field goal to win. Do we disallow field goals in that scenario?

Overtime is just an extension of the 4th quarter, with a stoppage when somebody scores. And I don't believe the winner of the coin toss wins the games disproportionatly. Heck, the Bears won the coin toss against Buffalo and lost that game. Wanna get the ball back? Play some defense. Yes, the offense is tired too. Suck it up!!

Total Nirvana · 12-13-2002, 04:05 PM

I remember the Chargers-49ers game. In overtime, the Chargers won the toss and declined. After a few posessions, the Chargers finally got a field goal in to end the game

View Poll Results: Should the NFL change OT rules, and what should they use
No change, keep it the way it is	6	28.57%
Use NFL Europe rules, each team gets 1 possession	6	28.57%
first team to score 6 points wins	6	28.57%
Other (describe your method below)	3	14.29%
Voters: 21. You may not vote on this poll

12-12-2002, 02:33 PM	#1
statfreak Hall Of Famer Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Milwaukee, WI Posts: 2,434	Overtime in the NFL I came across this at another forum, but didn't remember seeing it discussed here. Anyway, Magnum357 posted: Just heard this morning on an NFL show that their is offical word that the NFL is looking into the issue of OT. They are considering three options now for possible OT rule changes. Here are the three options... 1) No change. Keep OT the way it is. 2) Each team gets one possession. Basically pretty much like NFLE OT rules. 3) First team to score 6 points in OT, wins! ( now, my comments: ) I'd like to see them use either option 2 or 3. Option 3 would be interesting because you would still have sudden death, but at the same time not. Basically it would diminish the role of kickers and they would have to make two field goals to win the game. So, what are your opinions on NFL overtime? (sorry if this was discussed earlier and I missed it, I don't venture into the Talk Sports forum very often). __________________ Roll out the barrel! Last edited by statfreak; 12-12-2002 at 02:36 PM.

12-12-2002, 02:41 PM	#2
statfreak Hall Of Famer Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Milwaukee, WI Posts: 2,434	I would like to see a system similar to college or the XFL. Each team gets possession at the opponents 25 to start. If team A scores, then team B must match or beat that score in either the same number or less plays than team A used. IF team B cannot score within the same number of plays, then team A wins. If team A did not score or scored less points than team B, then team B wins. If both teams score identical points and in the same number of plays, then the ball is pushed back 5 yards. Overtime continues in this manner until one team wins. That would be my ideal overtime system. __________________ Roll out the barrel!

12-12-2002, 03:00 PM	#3
ScottFalk Minors (Single A) Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Dayton, Ohio Posts: 73	I say play the whole 15 minutes, if its still a tie, then its a tie. Otherwise, maybe no field goals allowed, first to score a touchdown or a safety. __________________ Scott MLB1966-Philadelphia Phillies MBBL-Salt Lake City Missions PWBL-St Louis Cardinals

12-12-2002, 03:02 PM	#4
Total Nirvana All Star Reserve Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: San Diego, California Posts: 750	i'm sorta against the idea of having team B the same amount of plays as team A, because what If team A scores on the first play? __________________ Total Hockey Commissioner Your Off-Topic Nightmare. Free Agent OT Player - Plays 1B/3B/OF, hits for power on all fields, great fielder, can hit .330 a season!

12-12-2002, 03:04 PM	#5
Hammer755 Hall Of Famer Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 2,348	I think that the high school/college/NFLE method of overtime is a ludicrous way of deciding the outcome of a tie game. Why fundamentally change the enire method of playing the game just because it's going into OT? It would be comparable to deciding a baseball game tied after 9 innings with a HR derby. Sure it's exciting, but it completely changes the flow of the game, and it's ridiculous to change the game so dramatically just to decide a tie. Often in college, a 20-20 tie becomes a 50-49 7OT game where the stats and records become so distorted that they are no longer relevant. While I don't think the current system is ideal, it's better than the alternatives. Although after thinking about it, the first to 6 points method is starting go grow on me.

12-12-2002, 03:18 PM	#8
Dwolfson20 Hall Of Famer Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Not St. Louis Posts: 2,872	I think the matching amount of plays idea is silly and goes even farther from the "reality" of regular play, like Hammer was saying. I kind of like the 6 points rule though. __________________

12-12-2002, 03:41 PM	#9
blubbla Hall Of Famer Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Herscher, IL Posts: 2,460	Give both teams one crack at scoring, with no game clock in play, then if it's still tied, go to the 15 minutes of sudden death like it is now.

12-12-2002, 04:33 PM	#10
frozenrope9190 Minors (Single A) Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Aurora, Illinois Posts: 57	Has the NFL world been shaken on its axis because of the first tie in 5 years? Jeez... The system has been fine before and is fine now. I say leave it alone. __________________ Owner - Arizona Discotheques of the FOBL

12-12-2002, 04:42 PM	#11
sixto Hall Of Famer Join Date: Jul 2002 Posts: 2,271	I don't see any reason to change. The only thing I might do is eliminate overtime altogether. Overtime is demonstrably an advantage for the team lucky enough to win the coin toss. A tie is a viable conclusion to a game and has legitimate in-game strategic consequences. I'd eliminate OT and go with an 18-20 game schedule which, besides slightly mitigating worries of a 6-8-2 division champion, will give us more football, and I really don't know why they don't do that. We don't need the bye week anymore so there's week 17. Start a week earlier and you're good to go.

12-12-2002, 05:21 PM	#13
sixto Hall Of Famer Join Date: Jul 2002 Posts: 2,271	sttfrk i sympathize with you completely on records, but i don't think that's a reason not to provide a more entertaining seasonal package. at the same time the proposal to make teams get to 6 points could result in some outrageous single-game records as teams march up and down the field then trudge jose cortez and neil rackers out there to miss their kicks.

12-12-2002, 05:32 PM	#15
twins15 Hall Of Famer Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Area 51 Posts: 4,792	I would like to see it like college. But with teams forced to go for 2 points every ot. __________________ "Ah man we're just hungry man" - Dovonte Edwards Bismarck Boy Scouts of the OTBL - league yes-man Ross Gload at baseball-reference.com Book Quotes and Book Lists

12-12-2002, 05:33 PM	#16
Draft Dodger Hall Of Famer Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: formerly of the OTBL Posts: 4,113	personally, I'd keep it the way it is. if they go to the college method, I'd probably stop watching - I don't want to watch a 58-52 game. I kind of like the "first team to score 6 points option" or the "play the full 15 minutes" if there had to be a change. the NHL is the sport that needs to change - I don't like seeing OT just last 5 minutes. __________________ Draft Dodger (Anarchy: Anything goes. The Draft Dodger viewpoint.) Sophmoric[sic] Member of the OOTP Boards (It's not OOTP; it's your computer) 15 GB Webhosting for $6.95 a month IMO we are best off abandoning that sinking ship that is Off Topic to the rats infesting it and just starting a whole new Baseball Forum from scratch.

12-13-2002, 04:05 PM	#20
Total Nirvana All Star Reserve Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: San Diego, California Posts: 750	I remember the Chargers-49ers game. In overtime, the Chargers won the toss and declined. After a few posessions, the Chargers finally got a field goal in to end the game __________________ Total Hockey Commissioner Your Off-Topic Nightmare. Free Agent OT Player - Plays 1B/3B/OF, hits for power on all fields, great fielder, can hit .330 a season!